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S T IE * M ] & T( ©I M. A 3B. 10 . 



BIOGRAPHY 

OF 

BET ^11411^ 

WITH HIS 

WILL. AFFIXED; 

COMPRISING 

AN ACCOUNT OF HIS 
PRIVATE LIFE, HABITS, GENIUS, AND MANNERS; 

TOGETHER WITH 
OF HIS 

BANK 



NANKING AND FINANCIAL OPERATIONS 

FOR THE LAST TWENTY YEARS. 



ACCOMPANIED WITH PHILOSOPHICAL AND MORAL REFLEC- 
TIONS, UPON THE MAN, THE MERCHANT, THE 
PATRIOT, AND THE PHILANTHROPIST. 

11 Philosophia stemma non inspirit, Platonem non accepit nobilem philosophia, sed 

fecit.* 7 — Seneca. 
"Philosophy does not look into Pedigrees. She did not receive Plato as noble, but 

she made him such. In the eye of true Philosophy all men are equal ; distinction 

is only to be acquired by superior worth and talents." 



BY STEPHEN" SIMPSON, ESQ. 

EMBELLISHED WITH A HANDSOME PORTRAIT. 

I9ftitattelpftf3: 

THOMAS L. BONSAL, 31 MARKET STREET. 

1832. 






Entered according to the Act of Congress, in the year one thou- 
sand eight hundred and thirty-two, by Thomas L. Bonsai., in the 
Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States, in and 
for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania* 



if. FITHIAN, PRINTER. 






INSCRIBED, 

WITH SINCERE SENTIMENTS 

OP 

ESTEEM AND RESPECT, 

FOR HIS PHILANTHROPY AND TALENTS, 
TO 

ROBERTS VAUX, ESQUIRE. 

BY 
HIS OBEDIENT SERVANT, 

THE AUTHOR. 
HAMiiToy, March 31, 1832. 



PREFACE. 

In the composition of the following pages, whatever 
may be their demerits, the censure belongs exclusively 
to the author, for he is indebted to others for little or no 
extraneous aid. The moment the work was undertaken, 
at the request of the publisher, application by letter was 
immediately made to the relatives of the deceased, so- 
liciting such information touching the life and history 
of their late kinsman as they might think proper to 
impart. To this request no formal answer was received, 
except from Dr. J. Y. Clarke, who politely waited on the 
author to explain the reason which induced the silence 
of the parties, which was, that Mrs. Haslam was in 
possession of a diary* kept by her late uncle $ and that 
being left but a very small and inadequate legacy, she 
contemplated, with a laudable spirit of enterprise, com- 
posing his biography herself. All avenues to the know- 
ledge possessed of him by his family, therefore, being cut 
off, the author became restricted to such means of in- 
formation as were open to him from the long intimacy 
which he had himself had with his character and doings, 
together with the vague and imperfect recollections of 
his numerous friends, who never having anticipated that 
they would be called on in relation to the events of his 

* The publisher waited upon Mrs. Haslam, and ascertained from 
her, that the diary embraced only four years, a period too inconside- 
rable to be of use to the author. 



IV PREFACE. 

life, had partly forgotten what they once knew, or were 
averse to relating all they could tell. 

There is reason, however, to believe, that much more 
than will be found in the following pages, relating to Mr. 
Girard, does not exist. The materials of a life so pri- 
vate, and so retired, were necessarily scant ; and having 
no connexion with the literary and scientific world, I 
could find few of his sayings to record, and still fewer 
of his opinions on books, men, or things, that called for 
record and preservation. Even a Boswell would have 
found it a difficult task, to paint to the life, a character so 
mysterious, mercenary, and anti-literary as that of Ste- 
phen Girard ; and they who expect to find a Doctor 
Johnson in the rich banker, will be grievously disap- 
pointed. 

The author desires nothing more than a candid con- 
sideration of the paucity of facts, and poverty of mate- 
rial, out of which he was required to compose the fol- 
lowing biography : — these apart, he is willing, and 
must necessarily abide all the rigour of criticism, and 
the severity of reproof, which want of ability to perform 
his task may justly provoke. 

For the events of his early life, I am indebted to the 
politeness of Mr. Charles Keen, of West Philadelphia ; 
—to William Phillips, Esquire 5 Charles N. Bancker, 
Esquire, and Captain James King, of this city. To 
Roberts Vaux, Esquire, I am also under obligations for 
interesting information, as well as to Mr. Joseph Roberts, 
one of his executors 5 and William Hewitt, Esquire, one 
of his warm friends and admirers. To T. Hirst, Esquire, 
I am also under obligations for several original and 



PREFACE. 



striking anecdotes. Acknowledgments are also due to 
Mr. John *#. Barclay, one of his executors $ and to 
William West and Paul Beck, Junior, Esquires, for their 
polite and copious communications, as well as to James 
Thackara, Esquire, of this city, and Mr. John J. Wat- 
son, of Germantown. 

Upon a close inspection of the materials in his posses- 
sion, it was found, that a mere history of his private 
life would prove as difficult a task, as it would be an un- 
grateful theme, for a public benefactor so eminent, and 
a genius so eccentric and remarkable. I, therefore, con- 
cluded to depart from the original intention of a strict 
(personal biography, and rather permit the man to speak 
for himself in his actions to the public, than to scrutinize 
and sift, and perhaps, after all, to be deceived, or mis- 
j led, by conflicting accounts of his private life, which 
could not interest a correct mind, and might seduce or 
pollute a weak one. What I have related, therefore, of 
1 his private habits, is from personal knowledge, or infor- 
mation immediately derived from my father, the late 
| George Simpson, or Mr. Joseph Roberts, and for which 
I can avouch. So far as I can judge, nothing has been 
narrated but what is true,- and if some part of the sup- 
posed truth has been occasionally softened, or sup- 
i pressed, it was because the cause of virtue was consi- 
j dered superior to the gratification of an idle curiosity. 
| It is better to say nothing, than to present a doubtful 
| example to youth ; or exhibit a portrait whose blem- 
ishes might prove pernicious, as well as excite doubt as 
to their reality. Humanity, in the best of her speci- 
mens, is but a frail compound $ and why should we 



VI PREFACE. 






exaggerate her weakness ? It is a trite, but an excellent 
remark, that we must not look for perfection in man $ 
but this saying is but the parent of an apothegm still 
better, that we ought not to look for the deformities, or 
take pleasure in contemplating those unavoidable blem- 
ishes that chequer the character of the greatest, and 
sometimes mar the beauty of the reputations of the best 
of men. 

In the succeeding pages, therefore, nothing has been 
wilfully extenuated that ought to be condemned, and 
nothing set down but what truth seemed irresistibly to 
require. If there should, however, be detected errors 
of omission, or commission, they must rather be re- 
ferred to the peculiar character of the subject of the 
biography, than to negligence or misrepresentation- 
want of diligence to collect proper materials, or want of 
industry in the author to arrange and digest them. 

I am aware that in the following pages I shall neither 
gratify his friends, who thought him infallible, nor satis- 
fy his enemies, who believe him to have been every thing 
that is frail. The truth will be found to lie between the 
two extremes. As to his genius, there can be but one 
opinion ; and when the present age shall have passed 
away, posterity will do justice to his fame, by decree- 
ing unqualified honour to his merits. 

STEPHEN SIMPSON, 



BIOGRAPHY 



OF 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 



The death of a rich man is a circumstance of such 
ordinary occurrence, that it seldom, or never excites a 
sensation beyond the settlement of his estate by his ex- 
ecutors ; and tlie enjoyment of his possessions by his 
heirs : — and, in the same manner, the life of an indivi- 
dual distinguished only for his immense property, would 
furnish but a meagre and unsatisfactory theme for the 
task of the Biographer, as well as a frivolous and unpro- 
ductive source of very limited amusement, and, perhaps, 
of no instruction to the reader. 

In the present instance, however, it is not merely the 
death of a man of wealth that we deplore ; nor the iso- 
lated history and adventures of opulence, that we design 
to trace. There is nothing in naked wealth to attract 
veneration, or inspire our esteem. The golden ore that 
glitters in its mountain bed, or sparkles at the bottom of 
the transparent stream, is as humble and valueless as the 
sombre pebble whose darkness contrasts its beauty. Nor 
is even the treasured hoard of the miser more entitled to 
an exalted sentiment of our moral nature. Though sus- 
ceptible of producing the greatest amount of good, by 

B 



8 BIOGRAPHY OF 

their judicious application, in themselves they are barren 
and useless. So is it with the rich man, distinguished 
only by his wealth. He resembles the tree that has bios* 
somed, but borne no fruit $ or the grain embedded in the 
fallow, which having lost the power to germ, produces 
no harvest, but rots, perhaps to reward the labour of a 
more industrious hand. Bleak and barren, indeed, is the 
prospect of riches, unadorned by virtue, and rendered 
useless by solitary accumulation. 

Not such, however, is the prospect now before us. In 
the person of Stephen Girard, we design to trace the life 
of a Republican citizen, who, by the active vigour of hi" 
genius, and his own unassisted exertions, attained I 
honest means to the possession of millions ; and who, 
when the possessor of millions, still continued a Repub- 
lican citizen: of one, who sacrificed his days and nights 
to accumulate wealth, not for the gratification of his 
own passions, or a frivolous vanity ; not that he might 
exhibit a proud deportment, parade a pompous equipage, 
or indulge in an aristocratic spirit of overbearing power, 
and arrogant sway, over his fellow citizens— not to cor- 
rupt the fountains of public justice, nor yet to pollute 
the streams of popular rights and political authority— 
but for the embellishment of cities, the improvement of 
a great commonwealth, the endowment of charities and 
asylums for the poor, — the institution of Colleges to en- 
lighten the minds, and improve the morals of the igno- 
ran t — together with the bequest of uncounted millions, 
to purposes of public utility, laudable enterprises, and 
noble benefactions. 

The rich man, when thus clothed in his virtuous deeds, 
and laudable actions, becomes a sensient, a moral, and 
even an heroic being. He recommends himself to our 
consideration, for other and far nobler possessions than 
gold and silver. He rises to the dignity of a public 
benefactor ; and though not invested with the authority 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 



of a lawgiver, like a Solon, or a Lycurgus, he becomes, 
substantially, not less heroic, and more entitled to our 
gratitude and veneration. 

The quiet, obscure, and unvaried career of commerce, 
furnishes in general, but little incident and variety, from 
which to compose a history of its votaries : and we 
accordingly find but few of that profession, who have ever 
risen to such eminence, as to excite the attention, or 
awaken the curiosity of the world. There is indeed, 
very little, if any incident in the pursuits of trade, to call 
for the narrative of the historian, or excite the reflections 
f the philosopher. But the object now before us, is nof 
he life of a mere merchant, whose history might be 
summed up in an exchange of equivalents, and the balance 
sheet of his ledger : but of one, who exhibited in his pro- 
tracted career a combination of pursuits, of talents, of 
virtues, and of views, seldom before united in the same 
man, and certainly never equalled, as far as history and 
tradition have preserved them from oblivion. It is, 
therefore, in the biography of such a man, so singularly 
endowed, and so remarkably eccentric, that we must feel 
a lively interest, as likely to afford possible lessons for 
instruction, or innocent anecdotes for amusement. 

It has often been remarked, but its truth cannot be 
too frequently repeated, that whatever is necessary for 
our instruction, improvement, or perfection, has been 
implanted by nature, as a primary feeling or instinct, in 
the human breast. Among these original impressions, 
that of curiosity is the most rational in itself, as well 
as the most useful in its results ; especially when di- 
rected by that sympathy for our kind, which leads us 
to pry into the history and lives of eminent men, who 
have risen to distinction on account of their achieve- 
ments, in any particular department of human action — 
whether it be the conquest of empire by the force of 
arms, the attainment of supreme power by fraud, or 



10 BIOGRAPHY OF 



violence, the acquisition of vast learning, by means of 
study, genius, or industry ; ' or, as in the case of the 
eminent man now before us, the accumulation of im- 
mense wealth by the arts and mysteries peculiar to 
trade, or that auspicious destiny, called good fortune, 
which crowns with success every attempt, or enterprise 
of its favored votary ; but which reason resolves into 
vigorous efforts, backed by perseverance and industry, 
reinforced by sobriety and talent. 

Among the latter class of great men, Stephen Girard 
may justly be included, as well from the vast extent of 
his posessions, as the uncommon texture of his mind $ 
for as few men were so remarkably successful as he was 
in the pursuit of wealth, so few have been so singularly 
endowed both in body and in mind. To say that he 
was eccentric, or extraordinary, would give but a feeble 
and inadequate idea of a character, whose actions 
through life, afforded but an imperfect clue to the con- 
trolling and predominant traits of his genius. He was 
a combination of all that is singular and extraordinary $ 
and hence that intense curiosity which all must feel as 
to the events of his life ; the peculiarities of the man, 
the cast of his mind, the bent of his humors, the com- 
plexion of his temper, the extent of his sagacity, the 
force of his passions, and the vigor of his judgment- 
together with all that indefinable train of minor circum- 
stances, which contribute to form and complete the in- 
dividual character. But here the misfortune is, that 
the very circumstance which excites our curiosity most, 
obstructs its gratification ; for that very eccentricity 
that we desire to know, has by its own movements, 
cut off the means of information, and we are left to pick 
up such detached anecdotes of the man, as accident 
or attention has rescued from oblivion. On the subject 
of disclosing the events of his life, Mr. Girard was as 
singular, as he was in his habits and humors themselves 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 1 1 

He would disclose nothing, because nothing was wor- 
thy of being recorded of a man, but his deeds ; and as 
these would speak for themselves, their merit would 
entitle them to renown, or their demerit consign them 
to oblivion \ a sentiment so just and noble, that though 
it rivals the sayings of Plato, still leaves us in the dark 
as to the early stages of his fortune ; for few will be 
careful to cherish the history of a man, who commenced 
life pennyless, obscure, and vulgar \ when it could not 
be conjectured, that he would ever rise to that impor- 
tance, which should afterwards challenge public admi- 
ration, and leave the world in wonder, as to the noiseless 
and misty track by which he climbed to fortune. Ever 
after his attainment to wealth, the singularity of his 
manner of life, was quite as surprising as the amount 
of his fortune $ and though no man was more known to 
l the public by name, yet there were few who were so 
little known to the world, in his real character. This 
arose either from the engrossing cares of accumulation, 
or the eccentric recreations of a wayward and peculiar 
spirit. He thus attracted by his wealth, that public 
curiosity, which his secluded manner of living failed 
to gratify ; and left to imagination, envy, or slander, to 
conjecture, or invent traits of character that often had 
no existence in the unobtrusive subject of them; and 
to give rise to anecdotes more calculated to gratify ma- 
lice by reflecting ridicule, than to illustrate the charac- 
ter which they sought to asperse. It has thus happen- 
ed, that no man has been so little known, and so much 
misrepresented ; a circumstance too common to all who 
excite public attention, without affording the correct 
means to appreciate character. 

Another cause has also contributed to obscure the true 
features of his character, in the natural disproportion 
which exists between public expectation, and the real 
magnitude of the means by which humble industry, or 

b2 



12 BIOGRAPHY OF 

obscure genius, attains to eminence and distinction. This 
is especially, and almost necessarily the case, where the 
object, by means, perhaps, known only to himself, builds 
up by gradual and successive efforts, an immense fortune 
— the dazzling effulgence of which causes us to expect 
an equal degree of splendour, in the incidents and life of 
its possessor. Such an expectation seldom fails to reap 
disappointment. The accumulation of money, even in 
the most active, is a silent and unostentatious operation, 
rather to be felt than seen ; and it was so, in a peculiar 
manner, with Stephen Girard — whose natural reserve of 
disposition was increased by the dictates of that saga- 
city, which instructed him in the wisdom of making his 
own bosom his chief, if not only confidential counsellor. 
It has been maintained by some, that great riches in- 
dicate no peculiar cast of character; and that to be rich, 
is rather a cause to be despised than admired. Such 
indiscriminate denunciation of those who possess what 
all covet, must be the offspring either of ignorance, or of 
envy. In the case of wealth inherited by men, whose 
obvious deficiency of mind, lack of ingenuity, or absence 
of industry — plainly indicate their inability to acquire it, 
the remark may, in some measure, be correct. But 
where the object that enriches himself, is a poor, outcast, 
ignorant, and wandering boy — often destitute of a meal, 
and indebted to friendship for a shirt to screen his naked 
limbs from the piercing keenness of the blast — and who, 
from this extremity, rises by the force of genius, indus- 
try, and good fortune, to the command of millions — 
placing himself on an equality, at the same time that he 
invests himself with much of the power of princes — 
who shall say, that such an extraordinary career through 
life, does not manifest the most surprising qualities of 
mind, which entitle their possessor to veneration, inde- 
pendent of his wealth ? He who starts at the lowest 
point of existence, and succeeds in climbing to the highest, 



STEPHEN GIRARD. IS 

manifests virtues and properties which extort applause, 
and challenge imitation. He rises on the scale that ap- 
proximates to heroes. The very achievement proclaims 
the superiority of the man. True, this kind of greatness 
is very different from that which gives eclat to the war- 
rior, or renown to the king. One weaves his laurels 
from the broken hearts of widows and orphans — and the 
other carves out his immortality from the misery of his 
oppressed subjects, whereas, the conqueror of millions, 
in the humble avocations of trade, only subjugates his 
own passions, and makes tributary to his power, the 
virtues of sobriety, prudence, economy, and industry. 
We must be careful* therefore, not to confound the 
subject of this biography with the common mass of rich 
men. Such a man is a phenomenon destined to extort 
the admiration of ages : — the Napoleon of the moniecl 
world, as it respected the reach of his mind in the bene- 
volent and patriotic application of that wealth, whose ex- 
tent and power placed him on a footing with monarchs. 
And when we come to contemplate closely the affinity 
between wealth and power, we shall not be startled even 
at a closer parallel between them. Whatever commands 
the services, talents, affections, and allegiance of men, 
approximates to regal authority ; and what can com- 
pare with the efficacy of gold, in this particular ? True, 
we make a metaphysical distinction between the person 
and the property ; but how much easier would it not 
prove to the greater portion of mankind in the lowest 
ranks of life, to acheive the possession of a throne, than 
to acquire by industry, the possession of millions. The 
mind that could accomplish the latter, may be viewed 
as little inferior to him, who, by one step, rose from 
private life to supreme power. In other words, it is 
easier to be a King, than a Girard ! 

Burke, in his eloquent treatise on that subject, defines 
sublimity to be, whatever is vast, boundless, or of over- 



14 BIOGRAPHY OF 

powering dimensions. According to this idea, millions 
of money possess a magnitude quite sufficient to consti- 
tute the sublime. But as I before observed, money in 
itself, is nothing. Its application decides its character $ 
and it is in this, that the fortune of Mr. Girard, in its 
destination to the happiness and improvement of mankind, 
excites the noblest ideas, together with the most exalted 
reflections of moral sublimity. The rich banker may be 
a character, that in the minds of some, would excite no 
emotion associated with esteem, or veneration — but the 
munificent philanthropist, at once takes captive every 
judgment, and every heart, to decree him applause and 
secure him the public admiration. 

The pedigree of such a man becomes of inferior mo- 
ment, and the place of his birth, are items of still inferior 
magnitude, compared to the great events of his history, 
and the critical stages of his fortune. Stephen Girard was 
indebted to his parents for nothing but the common and 
instinctive boon of existence. He was the creator of his 
own destiny — "the architect of his own fortunes /" and 
hence his mind, his industry, his perseverance, and his 
actions, claim superior consideration to those minutae of 
pedigree which relate to parentage, birth, &x. I have, 
on this account, been less anxious to ascertain facts on 
these points $ thus taking a lesson from his own maxim 
— that a man's life is only to be read in his conduct; 
and that what he may do, — not what he may think, or 
say, forms the only proper subject for his biography. 

France had the honor of giving birth to Stephen Gi- 
rard. He was born in the environs of Bordeaux, on the 
24th May, 1750. Of his parents I have been able to 
learn nothing, and perhaps, there is very little to be known 
that would throw any light upon the early predilections, 
or bent of Stephen's mind. Whatever they were, and 
it is reasonable to suppose, that they were not exalted 
above obscure and vulgar life, though honest and 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 15 

respectable — they did little to entitle themselves to his 
gratitude ; for his education was evidently very deficient ; 
and it is believed that his recollections of home, never 
excited in his bosom a desire to return, or drew from 
his heart a sigh of pensive regret, over the fond remem- 
brance of youthful delights ; desires and regrets, that 
never fail to be felt and cherished, when home has been 
endeared to the heart, and the sportive hours of boyhood 
have been unclouded by sorrow, or severity. It would 
not be just, however, to condemn his parents for wilful 
neglect, or intentional unkindness \ as it is possible that 
the waywardness of his spirit may have resisted instruc- 
tion, and defied discipline ; or, that they were too poor to 
furnish him the means of knowledge, and not sufficiently 
enlightened themselves, to think that ignorance a misfor- 
tune, which was common to all in the same condition of 
life 5 and from which it is probable, he would never have 
emerged, had he not launched himself upon the world, to 
try new scenes, and encounter unknown and exciting perils. 
That his education was very limited, at the period he 
left his native country will not admit of a doubt, and 
there is good reason to believe, that the consciousness 
of his deficiencies on this score, added to his inability 
to acquire the English dialect, was the cause of much 
of that abstraction from society, for which he was re- 
markable even in the zenith of his fortune ; and which 
only could have operated to produce this reserve, in a 
mind quickened by the active fires of superior genius, 
feeling its own power, and despising its limited attain- 
ments. It is not probable, that he ever received any 
education at home, beyond the simple faculty of reading, 
and a very imperfect initiation into the first elements of 
writing, which he must have taken pains at a more acU 
vanced period of life, to cultivate and improve, as he saw 
the necessity of knowledge to secure promotion, or ex^ 
perience forced upon him the conviction of its utility and 
advantages, 



16 BIOGRAPHY OF 

The only account I have been able to obtain of his re- 
sidence in France, was communicated by a gentleman, 
who had the narrative from his own lips ; and related to 
his defect of vision in his right eye ; which subsequently 
increased so much as to cause total blindness. He 
stated that this blemish was not observed or felt by him 
until he was in his eighth year. At that time, his at- 
tention was first directed to it, by the boys, who began 
to ridicule him for his blind eye, or what was then an 
obvious deformity to others, though unknown to him- 
self. The ridicule of his playmates and companions, he 
felt so keenly, that he resolved to go to a doctor, and 
take his advice how to cure it. The physician, after an 
examination of the eye, assured him the defect could 
easily be removed, by cutting the skin, or film, which 
had grown over it $ but Girard, always prone to be self- 
willed and obstinate, and not liking the idea of having 
his eye cut, which, to a boyish imagination, ignoran* c 
science, and perhaps prejudicial against the art, 
sufficiently terrific, he declined submitting to the ope- 
ration. After that, he does not appear to have made 
any efforts to have it restored, until very late in life $ 
when he resorted to the use of a nostrum, but without 
success, presented to him by one of his captains. It is 
probable, that his active life and incessant movements, 
kept him from thinking of its cure ; or that he early 
despaired of it, having made up his mind never to sub- 
mit to the operation of the knife. Many have supposed 
that he had lost his eye, entirely, and that it was closed 
up ; but this was not the fact, the eye was entire, though 
deformed and blind. He has, himself, confessed, that 
the ridicule of the boys, hurt him much ; and this de- 
fect, no doubt, contributed, in some measure, to sour 
his temper ; and at an after period, to turn the current 
of his thoughts to pursuits out of the common track of 
ordinary men. At a later day, his eye was still further 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 17 

injured, whilst passing through the streets, by a blow 
from a snow-ball ; as he stated to my father, in answer 
to a question upon this subject. This defect contribut- 
ed to give a severe and harsh expression to his ample, 
and otherwise well expressed and well formed counte- 
nance. 

A more trifling circumstance than this, has drawn 
many a boy from the shelter of the paternal roof, to 
encounter the perils of the sea, or gratify a natural re- 
lish for an adventurous life. How far it operated upon 
Girard, can only now be conjectured ; and it is highly 
probable, that as Milton has expressed it, under a simi- 
lar affliction, it contributed to drive his thoughts inward 
— if not to engraft upon his native stem of benevolence, 
something of a rugged and morose spirit, not altogether 
satisfied with his destiny, or panting after a recompense 
for his loss. 

He is supposed to have left France, at the early age 
ten or twelve years, in the capacity of a cabin boy, 
in a vessel bound to the West Indies ; most likely in a 
clandestine manner, though it can hardly be supposed 
that his parents, being poor, would interpose an obsta- 
cle to his departure ; especially among a people cha- 
racterized by enthusiasm, and to whom adventure is as 
familiar as their household gods. This early period 
of his bidding a lasting adieu to the parental roof, has 
probably given rise to the belief, that severe treatment had 
impelled him to the act of self-banishment, as is often 
the case with the wayward spirits of a high-strung 
temperament, under the false impression, that all re- 
straint on their conduct, is tyranny 5 that the mildest 
form of paternal justice is intolerable oppression, which 
to endure, would degrade, and not to seem to resist, 
would debase. Whatever may have been the cause, 
however, whether his wall-eye, or impatience of re- 
straint, or that eagerness of enterprise, and thirst of 



18 BIOGRAPHY OF 

speculation, which so strongly marked him through 
life — and it is most probable that he panted to embark 
in new scenes, explore unknown countries, and sound 
the shallows and the depths of lifej it is certain, that 
he left his native land, long before others read or think 
of foreign climes. 

He did not long remain in the West Indies $ for while 
yet a cabin boy, he arrived at New York, from which 
port he continued to sail in the employ of Captain 
James Randall, as cabin boy and apprentice $ and to 
whom he probably bound himself. Whilst with him, 
the conduct and deportment of Girard were so highly 
exemplary, distinguished by such fidelity, industry, and 
temperance, as to endear him very highly to his master, 
so that he soon grew to be a favorite with Capt. Randall, 
who distinguished him by the pet appellation of "my 
Stephen'' — Nor did he ever after commit any act to 
forfeit this confidence and attachment ; for when Capt. 
Randall gave up going to sea, he promoted Girard from 
the station of mate, to the command of a small vessel, 
in which he made several voyages to New Orleans, and 
other ports, always to the satisfaction of his employers 
and consignees. 

It is a singular fact, and is fully illustrated in the 
history of Girard, that men who commence life at the 
earliest period, generally, if not always, succeed the best. 
It seems as if an apprenticeship in the world, was neces- 
sary to a proper knowledge of it — that the early pres- 
sure of want and hardships, and an experience of the 
necessity of exertion, were the best stimulants to action, 
if not the only means of attaining to habits of perseve- 
rance and industry. 

The exact gradations of his promotion, I have not 
been able to ascertain, but they must have been far 
from tardy ; for his apprehension was quick, his memo- 
ry retentive, his habits of observation close and correct, 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 19 

and his judgment sound. Even in boyhood, he was 
more remarkable for gravity, than that brisk ebullition 
of the spirit, which characterizes the people, but es- 
pecially the youth of his country. Nor did he ever 
carry about him that nationality of mind, which is pe- 
culiar to foreigners in general. In his youth, he was 
always self-poised, steady, consistent, and meditative ; 
occasionally, good-natured, but generally austere. The 
early loss of his right eye, no doubt helped to increase 
his constitutional propensity to seriousness, and to lead 
him to appreciate things in preference to signs ; and to 
prefer realities to appearances. Such a disposition to 
perform his duty, and improve in knowledge, could not 
fail, in time, to secure him its merited reward of honor 
and promotion. 

The ability to command and navigate a vessel, seems 
to imply the possession of more knowledge, than the 
limited education of Girard could have conferred. But 
it is not to be supposed that Captain Randall would es- 
teem him so highly, without being careful to instruct 
him in the nautical knowledge of the day, as well as 
give him some schooling, in the intervals between his 
voyages. But after all, Girard was a self-taught man. 
The intuitive quickness of his conception, and all those 
powers of observation, reflection, and concoction of 
thought, which go to constitute genius, would cause 
very little instruction to go a great way, in such a mind 
as Girard possessed. And it is, perhaps, owing to the 
very circumstance of his early destitution of education, 
that he was afterwards stimulated to redeem himself 
from a state of ignorance, by self-study, and such desul- 
tory reading as opportunity threw in his way, during his 
voyages from one port to another. Yet that his know- 
ledge of navigation was far from perfect, an anecdote 
which I shall hereafter relate, will fully show. He was 
more remarkable for practical wisdom than theoretical 

C 



20 BIOGRAPHY OF 

science, or profound erudition, of which he had but a 
moderate share, being more fond of practice than pre- 
cept, and more inclined to act from experience than 
principle. 

After he emerged from his apprenticeship, he gra- 
dually began to embark in small speculations, or adven- 
tures, as the seamen term them; and as he was always 
distinguished for his good fortune, or sound judgment, 
and both no doubt combined in his favor ; he continued 
to add little by little to the small sum that he originally 
invested. It was a favorite theme for him, when he 
grew rich, to relate that he commenced life with six- 
pence ; and that a man's best capital was his industry. 
In this manner, he continued to prosecute trade for se- 
veral years, between New York and New Orleans $ 
until, finally, his profits had so much increased, by eco- 
nomy and good fortune, for the Water Witch was never 
known to cast a frown upon Stephen Girard — that he 
became part owner of a small vessel and cargo, in that 
trade, which vessel, he, himself, commanded. His 
confidence in the ascendency of his "lucky star," was 
so great as to approach to superstition $ which, in all 
other respects, he never could be suspected of. Like 
Caesar and Napoleon, he never distrusted fortune; but 
superior to them in this instance, the fickle goddess ne- 
ver rebuked him for his presumption, by withdrawing 
her smiles. 

His first visit to Philadelphia, was in the year 1769 ; 
but he was then so little known and regarded, that how 
he came, or what was the special object of his visit, I 
have not been able to discover. Most probably, specu- 
lation, or trade, enticed him from New York ; for he 
established himself in business in Water street, and 
was reputed a thriving man, passing frequently between 
the two cities. His operations, however, were then on 
a scale so contracted and small, as to excite little or no 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 2 1 

attention. But the mind of Girard was no doubt secretly 
at work, to conquer fortune ; and the embryo of the great 
banker was, unknown to himself, beginning to germ. 

Though remarkable for a seriousness approaching to 
austerity, Girard resembled neither a monk, nor an as- 
cetic, in his habits of life ; and as he saw the sun of ^his 
prosperity lift its beams above the dark horizon of his 
early life, the full blood and buoyant spirit of four-and- 
twenty, would diffuse their gladsome influence through 
his actions. He accordingly now found leisure to relax 
from the cares of business, to the delights of love, and 
devote a portion of his time to addressing the woman 
who had inspired the first and only passion in his heart. 
The object of his affection was the daughter of an 
1 old ship-builder and caulker, of the name of Lum, who 
resided in Water, above Vine street $ and who at the pe- 
I riod of his courtship, resided in the capacity of a ser- 
I vant girl, in the family of Col. Walter Shee. Mary, 
ior Polly Lum, as she was familiarly called, was en- 
dowed with charms that easily accounted for the con- 
i quest she had made. Beauty, in the words of the poet, 
loses none of its lustre, by being unadorned, and fre- 
quently makes the deepest impression, when in her most 
ungainly and unstudied mood. Thus, at any rate, it 
proved in the instance of Mary Lum and Stephen Gi- 
rard } for he was first smitten with her beauty, as he ob- 
served her going to the pump, without shoes or stock- 
J ings, with her rich, black, and glossy hair, hanging in 
j dishevelled curls about her neck. She was a handsome 
I brunette, of sixteen, remarked for her modesty, and 
] celebrated for her charms. The visits of Girard soon 
j attracted the attention of her family, who suspecting the 
character of his designs, he was'fSrbidden to repeat his 
solicitations, but the sincerity of his attachment was 
immediately evinced by a prompt offer of marriage, 
and in the succeeding year, 1770, she became his wife ; 



22 BIOGRAPHY OF 

thus removing all those suspicions derogatory to his 
honor, which the disparity of their condition in life, had 
excited. It is to this disparity, that I have been indebted 
for a knowledge of his marriage, which excited at the 
time, all that gossip and conversation, which so singu- 
lar a piece of good fortune in Mary Lum, was calculated 
to give birth to, and which her meekness, modesty, ex- 
emplary deportment, and various merits, so fully en- 
titled her to — attractions far superior to personal charms, 
and which did not fail to procure for Mrs. Girard, 
after her marriage, the attention and society of some of 
the most respectable families in the neighborhood. 

At this remote period, it would be a difficult ques- 
tion to discuss, whether on the part of his wife, it was 
a marriage of worldly convenience, or of fond affection $ 
but the unfortunate issue of the match, for it was most 
disastrous to both, has started the doubt ; and where 
there is doubt, there will be conjecture. The tempta- 
tion of an offer of marriage to a young servant girl, by 
a captain and merchant, who even then was supposed 
to be a favored votary of fortune, was certainly too 
great, to permit her to question or scrutinize the emo- 
tions of her heart. On the other hand, there was no- 
thing in the person, manners, or mind of Girard, cal- 
culated to awaken a romantic passion in the bosom of 
a young girl. His profession had left its impress on 
his person. But to counterbalance these disadvan- 
tages on his part, what could be expected of a vulgar, 
ignorant, and slovenly servant girl? In this respect, 
their condition was at least equal ; and if the disparity 
was great in fortune, it did not exist in any other par- 
ticular. We shall, perhaps, be correct in our apprecia- 
tion of the motives and feelings which prompted both 
parties to this union, when we believe, that Girard was 
more attracted by the beauty of the girl, than influ- 
enced by any sentimental passion or affection* — for he 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 23 

dealt in practice — not theory — and that she was more 
anxious to escape from the oppressive and laborious 
drudgery of her situation, than desirous of connecting 
herself through life to one whom she was ignorant 
whether she loved, or not. 

The character and condition of the family of Mary 
Lum, are important, however, in another respect, as 
showing, that at this period, Girard, though a captain, 
was comparatively humble in his views, and content to 
dwell in obscurity — that he had no expectation of ever 
emerging from this rank to the first degree of opulence, 
and that under these impressions, of being settled for 
life in the same class as Polly Lum, the pretty daughter 
of the old ship-builder, he never looked forward to the 
day, when he might blush for his choice, or regret her 
want of accomplishments to adorn a higher circle. How 
far, or whether at all, this circumstance, contributed to 
embitter his conjugal state, must be left to conjecture ; 
it certainly was not calculated to add to his happiness, or 
smooth the unavoidable asperities of a married life. 

By this union, Mr. Girard had one child, which 
died in infancy $ and from the fact of his having, 
at a later period, made application to the Legislature 
of this state for a divorce, it is inferred that he en- 
joyed but little happiness, or tranquillity. The cause 
of much of this discord it cannot be doubted sprung 
from the peculiarity of his constitution and habits, 
which led him to ebullitions, that he could not always re- 
strain, or master. Few women are fitted by nature, to 
bend to the tempest of a domineering, intolerant, and 
arbitrary husband ; and where the bland polish, and 
mild amenity of refined life are wanting, the most fri- 
volous causes beget fatal collisions. Matrimony to the 
softer sex, would, indeed, be a state, even worse than 
slavery, were no fond concession, no bland relinquish- 
ment of right, no voluntary division of dominion, on 

c 2 



24 BIOGRAPHY OF 

the part of the husband, to soften the hardships of her 
trials, and mitigate the intensity of her sufferings. 
Courtesy, chivalry, common tenderness, and an ordina- 
ry sense of justice, will dictate to an affectionate, or 
honorable husband, the surrender of at least half his 
power. But to exact absolute and unqualified submis- 
sion, to extort obedience without limits, to prescribe a 
rule of justice for one, which may be violated with im- 
punity by the other, never can, and never has conduced 
to matrimonial felicity. What is wrong for the wife, 
must be equally wrong in the husband. Any other rule, 
cannot fail to be productive of matrimonial misery, 
daily altercation, and heart-rending jars — which exhibit 
the weakest part of our nature in its most imperfect and 
degrading form. The culpability of such an instance 
of connubial infelicity, may be aggravated by habits, 
which in the case before us, did not exist; but it would 
be difficult to palliate, justify, or excuse them. 

The most important era in our lives, is that in which 
we link our destiny with the fate of another, and the 
partner chosen, holds our honor and our felicity in her 
keeping. It is the same with the female. This inci- 
dent in the life of Mr. Girard, is too well known to be 
suppressed ; and as it will, no doubt, be perpetuated by 
the honest chronicler of the times, to posterity, it be- 
comes of importance, that his example in this respect, 
should be held up to the rising and future generations, 
to admonish them from contracting precipitate, or 
unequal marriages — an error, which brought the most 
bitter fruits home to the domestic hearth of the most 
opulent merchant of this country, and embittered the 
best days of a mind as powerful in its faculties, as it 
was philosophical in its habits of inquiry and medita- 
tion. It is not my intention to prosecute an investiga- 
tion into the unhappy effects of a disastrous marriage 
upon the heart $ but they are generally too serious to 



STEPHEN GIRAHD. 25 

be soon forgotten, and too poignant not to sink deep 
into the character. How far they tend to strip the 
heart of those tender sympathies, which form the chief 
ornament, as they constitute the main sources of happi- 
ness in the human character, we may readily conceive 5 
but whether they were permitted to hold so powerful 
an influence over the feelings of Mr. Girard, can only 
be conjectured $ had he permitted his attention to inter- 
mit, for a moment, from those complicated, exciting, 
and pressing avocations, that at all times crowded upon 
him. Even admitting, however, that his affections 
were withered, occasionally, in their branches, by the 
recollection of this misfortune — still they were alive 
and vigorous at the roots, and threw out, towards the 
close of his life, those beautiful buds, and blossoms of 
Philanthropy, which have scented with balmy odours, 
the atmosphere of penury, and strewed with the sweetest 
flowers, the obscure path of the lowly and destitute 
orphan. 

We here feel a natural desire to pause, and speculate 
upon what might have been the probable destiny of 
Girard, had his marriage but been crowned with a nu- 
merous offspring, whether his fortune would have at- 
tained to the same gigantic magnitude, and his mind 
have remained shut up in the solitary desire of accumu- 
lation ? Far different would have been his character, — 
infinitely inferior his fortune. The thousand channels 
of a father's affections, would have gushed from his 
heart $ new sympathies would have given a new bent to 
his character. The father's fondness, or the child's 
prodigality, would have expanded his heart, and sub- 
tracted from his wealth. The establishment of sons, 
and the endowment of daughters, would have occupied 
his thoughts, and absorbed his substance ; but even if 
his natural disposition had continued unsoftened and 
inflexible, the necessary expenditures of a large family 



26 BIOGRAPHY OF 

must have made an essential inroad upon his income* 
and left him to the common lot of opulence, a mode- 
rate fortune bequeathed to pamper the passions of a 
discontented progeny, anticipating his death, and when 
dead, overclouding his memory for not having died 
richer. 

Whether children would have improved the virtues 
of the man, as they diminished his fortune, must, after 
all, be left in doubt 5 but the general principle may be 
safely assumed, that his chance of moral perfection would 
have been increased. There must always be more or 
less perversion of the sympathies, when the natural des- 
tination of man is obstructed ; whether by design, acci- 
dent, or misfortune. It is but a tribute to his native 
goodness of heart, to suppose, that he desired to have 
children, and felt mortified and disappointed, that he was 
destined to have none. 

It has been said, that his conduct as a husband, was 
open to reprehension $ but " let him who is guiltless, 
throw the first stone." He who does not claim perfection 
for himself, cannot refuse to excuse the errors of a 
brother. And who shall venture to say, that the 
saving virtues of Stephen Girard, have not blotted out 
the venial faults to which humanity is heir ? Though 
we may vent the sigh of regret over his infirmities, we 
cannot refuse the shout of applause, extorted from us by 
his noble deeds of public usefulness. Though we may 
often be compelled to say, frail is the man ; yet we 
cannot but confess, that great is the patriot, exalted is 
the philanthropist, immortal is the benefactor of the 
poor, venerable is the patron of knowledge I For the 
mantle of charity is cast over the deeds of the earthly 
man, and even the spirits of higher spheres, will join in 
singing his praise — for charity 

" Droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven 
Upon the place, beneath : it is twice bless'd ; 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 27 

It blesseth him that gives, and him that takes ; 
'Tis mighty in the mightiest ; it becomes 
The throned Monarch better than his crown." 

After his marriage, he rented a small house in Water 
street ; and continued his business as a sea-captain, ship- 
factor, and merchant, as occasion offered, and as either 
profession promised him more profit than the other. 

During his voyages and excursions to New York, and 
perhaps, while he sailed out of that port, he contracted 
a very intimate acquaintance with Robert Ramsey, Esq., 
of that city, who became extremely attached to, and re- 
posed the most unlimited confidence in Girard. In 
1771, on his return from New York, whither he had 
been trading, he brought a letter of introduction from 
his friend Ramsey, to Isaac Hazelhurst, Esq., then of 
this city ; and such was the favorable impression made 
upon the mind of this latter gentleman, by the merits of 
Girard, that Mr, Hazelhurst was induced to enter into 
partnership with him, to prosecute commerce to the 
island of St. Domingo. What amount of capital Gi- 
rard furnished, is not now recollected ; but the firm 
purchased two brigs to put in this trade, one of which, 
the Betsey, Girard took the command of; each vessel 
being mounted with one gun, with the design of making 
resistance against any attempt of capture. On this oc- 
casion, the customary good fortune of Girard, for a 
time, forsook him ; for both brigs were captured, and 
sent to Jamaica, which broke up the adventure, dis- 
solved the partnership, and disappointed the owners of 
an immense profit. Much censure was thrown upon 
Girard, for not defending his vessel, as they had ex- 
pressly been furnished with armaments, and it was ex- 
pected that he would have manifested the usual gallant- 
ry of a French sailor. Whether Girard was justly cen- 
surable, cannot now be ascertained. The force of his 
enemy may have been too overpowering for resistance $ 



28 BIOGRAPHY OF 

or as his business was trade, rather than war, he might 
have calculated that it was better to surrender his pro- 
perty than his life, and depend on fortune for regaining 
his wealth $ wisely reflecting, that life once parted with, 
could not be recovered. In this adventure, the disap- 
pointment of his partner was probably the more severe- 
ly felt, because his chief inducement to enter into the 
connexion, was the proverbial good fortune of Girard, 
whose touch, even then it was observed, would turn any 
thing into gold. But the most lucky have their mo- 
ments of disaster ; and Girard, it seems, came in occa- 
sionally for his share. 

From 1772 to 1776, I have been able to find very 
little, or rather no distinct trace of his movements. In 
this interval, it is highly probable that he continued the 
same course of life \ alternating between the profession 
of captain and merchant $ occasionally making a voyage 
to New Orleans, or St. Domingo, and then remaining at 
home to dispose of his cargo, and adjust his accounts 
for a second voyoge. It was while prosecuting one of 
these voyages, that he was met at the capes of Dela- 
ware, by Captain James King, of this city, to whom I 
am indebted for the following curious and remarkable 
particulars of the condition of Girard at that period ; 
whose reduced circumstances had probably been caused 
by the disaster which we have just described ; for 
throughout the whole course of his life, he made it a point 
in general not to insure his voyages, so great was his con- 
fidence in his good fortune. It must be allowed a little 
remarkable, that this should be the first time that Capt. 
King had ever heard of Stephen Girard $ and proves, 
that the rich banker must then have been a man who was 
too obscure and humble to attract that general notice, 
which would cause him to be extensively known among 
our mariners and merchants. Capt. King thus describes 
his meeting with him — "On the first day of May, 1776, I 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 29 

was chased by a British man-of-war. I ran my vessel 
ashore, all sails standing, about eight miles to the south- 
ward of Cape Henlopen. Whilst waiting at Lewistown, 
for an opportunity to come up, the men-of-war were 
coming in and out every day, so as to prevent us from sail- 
ing. One morning I saw a sloop at anchor, within the 
Cape, with a white flag flying. I applied to Major Fisher, 
who was then commandant, to send a pilot aboard of her 5 
"No, no, King," said he, "that is only a British decoy 
to get a Pilot \ I shall not trust them." I then went over 
the Cape, opposite to where the sloop lay at anchor. I 
hailed her, waved my hat, and did every thing that I 
could, in order to attract their attention ; they answered 
me in the same manner, but the surf made such a noise 
as to prevent us from understanding each other, from 
which I concluded to turn back, but as I was returning, 
discovered a boat rowing towards me with a flag on a 
staff. I waited till they came up, when they told me that 
they had orders from Major Fisher, that if I would risk 
myself with them to go along side of the sloop, they 
would convey me $ and if not, to return. I immediately 
stepped into their boat, and we proceeded to the sloop. 
On inquiring where she was from, they informed me, 
(in French) they were from New Orleans, and bound to 
St. Pierres, but that they had lost themselves. I explained 
to the Captain the dangerous situation that they were in $ 
and that if he attempted to go out, he certainly would be 
captured, as the men-of-war were in and out every day. 
' { My God, what shall I do," said ne. I replied, you 
have no chance but to push right up to Philadelphia. 
"How shall I do to get there — I have no Pilot, and don't 
know the way." I observed, that these men were all Pi- 
lots. " Oh, my good friend," said he, " can't you get one 
of them to take charge of me ?" I said that I would try, 
and accordingly spoke to them. They were willing, but 
insisted they must have five dollars to give to the men 



30 BIOGRAPHY Off 

for rowing them off. <f Oh, my good friend, what shall 
I do ? I have not got five dollars aboard^" exclaimed Gi- 
rard. I informed the men what he said. " Darn the 
Frenchman," was the reply, "we do not believe him, he 
has not come to sea without being able to muster five 
dollars. " I informed him what the men had said, and he 
replied, that it was really the case, that it was out of his 
power to muster it, "and what shall I do?" he exclaimed. 
" Well," said I, " I cannot stay with you any longer, for I 
am going up to Philadelphia myself, and I see one of my 
shallops coming out of the Lewistown creek, at this 
moment." "Oh, you are going up to Philadelphia, 
yourself, are you?" observed Girard $ — "Can you not 
stand security to these men for the five dollars, and 
I will pay you as soon as I get up to the city ?" I told 
him that I would, and one of the Pilots then took charge 
of his sloop, and commenced heaving the anchor im- 
mediately. I jumped into the boat and parted with them. 
The boat put me on board of the shallop that was com- 
ing out of Lewistown with my goods, and both sloop and 
shallop proceeded up. Before we had got out of sight of 
the spot where the sloop had cast anchor, we saw a 
British man-of-war coming in, and had we not started 
at the time, in less than an hour, Stephen Girard would 
have been a prisoner to the British. We both arrived 
safe in Philadelphia." 

If the foregoing account of his situation, given by 
Girard himself, be true, his knowledge of navigation 
must have been very limited, and his circumstances far 
from being prosperous. For although even a rich mer- 
chant, might have been without five dollars cash, under 
such circumstances, yet the general description of the 
little sloop and her commander bespeak circumstances 
considerably reduced from his former condition. But 
the story of his having lost himself, may very reasonably 
be supposed to have been some trick, or manoeuvre in Gi- 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 31 

rard, to obtain a pilot ; knowing, as he must have done, 
the extreme peril of his situation, owing to the constant 
visits of the British sloop of war % and we are confirmed 
in this impression, when we recollect the close obser- 
vation and uncommon sagacity of this singular man — - 
who thus readily invented a specious fiction, in order to 
accomplish his purpose. The circumstance of his ad- 
dressing Captain King, in French, is easily explained $ 
for it is a remarkable fact, that notwithstanding the 
early age at which Girard came to this country, he ne- 
ver could acquire the English pronunciation, or dress 
his thoughts in an English idiom adapted to conversa- 
tion. Even at the latest period of life, he was extremely 
deficient in this particular, and took advantage of every 
opportunity, to converse in French, in preference to 
English. 

From this period, the war which was then commenc- 
ing, drove him from commerce, to store-keeping ; and 
he opened a small grocery in Water street $ to which he 
attached a bottling establishment, of claret and cider. 
Here he continued to drive a profitable trade, until the 
approach of the British army, in 1777 \ when he pur- 
chased a small farm, at Mount Holly, of between five 
and six acres, of Isaac Hazelhurst, Esq., for the sum of 
five hundred dollars ; which Mr. Hazelhurst had pur- 
chased but a short time before of Mr. John Sheads, as 
a family residence 5 but whicn net answering the pur- 
pose, he disposed of to Girard at the same price that 
he had given. The house was a small frame, one story 
and a half high. Thither, upon the rumor of the Bri- 
tish approaching, Girard removed his store and bottling 
establishment. Here his chief occupation was bottling 
claret and cider, a business to which he seemed to be 
particularly attached, when not engaged in commerce ; 
and the profit on which, as it amply repaid him for 
his pains, became on that account, the more endeared to 

D 



32 BIOGRAPHY OF 

him. At no period of his life, even when glowing in 
the midst of his millions, was pride ever known to re- 
strain the hand of Girard from any species of labor, 
which promised utility, or produced profit. His maxim 
was, to work ; and if one business could not be prosecut- 
ed, another could — and every man was bound to labor, 
as the price of existence. With Stephen Girard, there 
was no descent in the scale of industry. He considered 
all labor as laudable, and one profession equally. honora- 
ble with another. In his opinion, nothing was so dis- 
graceful as idleness ; and to these wise and wholesome 
doctrines, is he probably indebted for the acquisition of 
his fortune. 

During his residence at Mount Holly, an anecdote is 
related, which probably exercised some influence to 
embitter his connubial happiness ; for though frivolous 
and innocent in itself, it was certainly not calculated to 
give ease to the most confiding mind. The American 
army was encamped in the neighborhood, and Girard's 
establishment, no doubt afforded many a moment of hi- 
larity and recreation to the Yankee soldiers $ by wh^ose 
purchases of his claret, he is supposed to have amassed 
considerable profits. Col. Walter Stewart, and a cap- 
tain of artillery, named Grice, being elevated one af- 
ternoon, to a merry mood, agreed to saunter over to 
Girard's, to crack a bottle of his claret, and see his 
pretty wife. This was accomplished much to the sa- 
tisfaction of the brace of gallants ; but Col. Stewart, 
finding his spirits rising somewhat above the level of 
rigid propriety, could not resist the temptation, whilst 
Girard's back was turned upon them in some other avo- 
cation, to snatch a kiss or two of his handsome wife. It 
was, perhaps, the idle frolic of the moment, or a joke 
made for a bet of a bottle of wine $ but Mrs. Girard, 
with a fine sense of propriety, imparted the outrage to 
her husband ; and the adventure made so much noise at 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 33 

the time, as to have descended entire down to the present 
age. Girard is said to have demanded an apology of 
Col. Stewart, who made the proper amends, by pleading 
the hilarity of the moment — a miserable excuse for com- 
mitting an outrage, which however innocent in itself, 
might be productive of much domestic misery to a 
worthy and contented pair. That it caused any dis- 
quietude to Girard, cannot now be known. 

He remained at Mount Holly from 1776 to 1779, oc- 
cupied in his humble business of bottler and store-keeper, 
and probably, when his exhausted supplies required 
replenishment, he procured a boat and carried them up 
by water — which may have given rise to the story of his 
at one time being an aquatic pedlar ; — a business that he 
is never known to have followed $ but which he no doubt 
would most cheerfully have embraced, had it produced 
a reasonable profit ; or, had he known, or required its 
advantages. That such an avocation was followed at 
that period, by persons of a reputable character, I have 
the assurance of a gentleman, on whose accuracy of 
information, I can fully depend ; but we have no reason 
to believe, that Mr. Girard was one of them — his store- 
keeping and bottling being a more lucrative occupation. 
A gentleman who became acquainted with Girard, iii 
1776, describes him as one whose personal appearance 
was any thing but prepossessing; appearing to the eye, 
a vulgar, ignorant, and rough man — so much so, that 
he was generally looked upon by the young merchants 
of the day, with an irresistible sentiment of undisguised 
contempt $ but this was but the impression caused by 
the first glance, and upon a superficial acquaintance. 
A more intimate knowledge of the man, inspired them 
with esteem for his worth, and extorted their admira- 
tion of his sound judgment and extensive views. Gi- 
rard appeared to be quite sensible of his unprepossess- 
ing appearance, an d bore even taunts and derision with 



34 BIOGRAPHY OF 

the meek and patient spirit of philosophy, content to 
wait for opportunity to remove the impression, and on 
no occasion ever suffering it to excite his anger, or pro- 
voke his resentment. 

Whatever might have been the success of his business 
at Mount Holly, he remained there no longer than the 
British kept possession of Philadelphia $ impatient to 
enter on a wider field of business and speculation, and 
impelled to action by that natural restlessness which 
at all times accompanies and inspires genius. We 
again find him in Philadelphia, in the year 1779, occupy- 
ing a range of frame stores on the east side of Water 
street, a short distance above his late residence, and to 
the south of Rouchet's wharf, where was located at that 
time, the counting house of John Wilcocks, one of the 
principal merchants of that day. A gentleman, who at 
this period, saw him almost every day, represents him 
as a very steady, plain, and simply attired man ; so much 
so, that even then, he went by the general appellation of 
old Girard ; not from any disrepect of the man, but solely 
from his antiquated and staid deportment. At this pe- 
riod, his stores were filled with old cordage, sails, blocks, 
and other crude materials for ship-building, which he 
was probably projecting at that period ; for his abstract- 
ed and taciturn habits, his reserve, caution, and pru- 
dence, kept his nearest neighbors entirely in the dark 
as to his movements. 

It is not likely, however, that he immediately made 
much money, after his return from Mount Holly ; for the 
war had exhausted in general the resources of the'country 
— money was scarce, and confidence not yet restored. 
The British had harrassed where they could conquer, 
and destroyed more than they removed, or consumed — 
added to which, the immense number of disbanded of- 
ficers who had established themselves in every profession 
of civil life, more especially mercantile business, had 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 35 

produced a depression of trade, by no means favorable to 
the sudden acquisition of great fortunes. On the con- 
trary, this excess of competition caused a revulsion most 
disastrous to commerce, and thousands became bank- 
rupt where one outlived the storm. The shock given 
to public credit by the total depreciation of the conti- 
nental money was an additional check to trade \ for 
thousands had been suddenly reduced to beggary, who 
before had rioted in opulence, and thought they might 
bid defiance to misfortune. It was, therefore, a most 
inauspicious period at which to re-commence business. 
How far Girard had suffered, if at all, by the deprecia- 
tion of the continental paper, I have not been able to dis- 
cover $ but it seems highly probable, from his well 
known caution, prudence, and general distrust of what- 
ever was liable to evil contingencies, that he lost little, 
if any thing, from this cause. 

Though remarkable for fortidude, and firmness, 
active courage was not one of the features of his mind* 
That he felt a warm interest in our struggle for inde- 
pendence, we have the best evidence to believe, and 
may accordingly class him among the Whigs of the 
Revolution. To fight was not congenial to the bias of 
his mind, but he loved liberty with the true ardor of a 
republican, and gave its cause the best pulsation, though 
not the best blood of his heart. He has been heard to 
relate, that he assisted some people to raise a Liberty 
Pole, at one of those periods of popular excitement 
which preceded and followed the Declaration of Inde- 
pendence. His adoption, at a subsequent period, of the 
republican principles of the great Jefferson, confirm the 
sincerity of his feelings in favor of the American cause, 
as well as those solemn admonitions contained in his last 
will upon this subject. 

In 1780, and the following year, he was successively 
engaged in the New Orleans and St. Domingo trade, 

d2 



36 fclO&RAPHY Of 

which then began to prove very lucrative, and having 
no increase of his family, his habits of economy, com- 
bined with his powerful conceptions of commerce, soon 
enabled him to extend his operations and double his 
gains. 

In 1782, he took upon a lease of ten years, a range of 
frame and brick stores and dwellings, extending on the 
east side of Water street, northward from the site of 
the dwelling in which he died— and on which was at 
that time erected a frame store, which he occupied him- 
self. This property then belonged to Edward Stiles, 
Esq., at that period, estimated as the most opulent man 
in Philadelphia. The terms of Mr. Girard's lease were 
extremely moderate, the trade and commerce of the 
city being then depressed to the lowest ebb. But Gi- 
rard looking into futurity with his wonted penetration, 
and anticipating the re-action which subsequently took 
place in trade, upon the treaty of peace, in the following 
year, stipulated with Mr. Stiles, that he should have 
the privilege of renewing his lease for ten years more, 
should he decide to do so, at the expiration of the term 
of his first lease. From the rent of these stores and 
dwellings, Mr. Girard has confessed, that he accumulat- 
ed large profits $ and on the very day of the expiration 
of the term of his first lease, he waited on Mr. Stiles 
for the stipulated renewal. Mr. Stiles anticipating his 
object, observed, " Well, Mr. Girard, you have made 
out so well by your bargain, that I suppose you will 
hardly hold me to the renewal of the lease for ten years 
more." "I have come," replied Mr. Girard, "to secure 
the ten years more — I shall not let you off." The lease 
was accordingly renewed, and the profits of Mr. Girard 
from this source, proved the first start to his great for- 
tune. Being reminded by one of his friends, the year 
previous to his death, of this event, in his early commer- 
cial life, he corroborated the fact, by a full explanation of 



STEPHEN GIRARD* ST 

the circumstances, appearing much gratified at the re- 
collection of this happy stroke of speculation. 

After this 3 his brother, Captain John Girard, arriving 
in this country, the two brothers entered into co-part- 
nership, under the firm of Stephen and John Girard, in 
connexion with a firm at Cape Francaise, under the 
name of Girard, Bernard and Lacrampe, — who were 
then prosecuting a highly productive commerce to the 
West Indies. But the two brothers were far from acting 
in harmony or concert. Discrepancy of views and 
contrary habits begat collision and altercation. Stephen 
Girard was ill calculated by nature, to be the partner of 
either man or woman. His intellect was too restless, 
comprehensive, and powerful, to submit to the inferior 
views of others, and his judgment and temper were too 
uncompromising, to yield against his convictions, to 
the suggestions that he could not approve, and which 
in his opinion, militated against his interest. Few men 
could equal him in any of the qualities for which he 
was remarkable $ and there was, therefore, no equality, 
or principle of justice in such an engagement with him. 
It was like matching an over-free going steed with 
a sluggish one, whose pace would not keep up with 
him. Another circumstance, however, was no doubt 
more productive of discord between the brothers, than 
any great disparity in their industry and talents for busi- 
ness. Captain John Girard was the father of a family, 
whose daughters have become the wives of several of 
our respectable citizens $ and as his expenses exceeded 
those of his brother, a natural jealousy would be excited 
in the mind of Stephen, so anxious to save, as well as to 
gain. The concern of the brothers, however, continued 
through several years of collision 5 and they were rapid- 
ly becoming rich, when the patience of the one was ex- 
hausted, and the temper of the other could bear no more. 
A complete rupture now took place — the firm was dis 



SB BlOGRAPflY Off 

solved I and it was agreed to call in an umpire, or refe- 
ree, to adjust and settle their* concerns. Both brothers 
united upon Hugh Calhoun, Esq., as their common 
friend, who fulfilled the object of his trust to the avowed 
satisfaction of both parties. This was in 1790. At 
that peried, Stephen had fallen behind his brother, either 
in the acquisition of money, or the disparity of his ca- 
pital invested in the concern ; for upon the settlement 
of the respective portions, John was found to be worth 
sixty thousand dollars ; whereas the fortune of Stephen 
amounted to but thirty thousand dollars ; a circumstance 
that goes far to explain the disagreement that subsisted 
between them. The smallness of this sum, when con- 
trasted with the splendor of his fortune forty-one yedrs 
afterwards, excites unmixed astonishment \ and affords 
sufficient proof that immense and sudden profits, as we 
shall hereafter see, crowned his subsequent speculations ; 
and that though he commenced with small beginnings, 
his profits were sudden and enormous. Like Napoleon, 
he was long in climbing to power; but when he had 
once ascended the car of fortune, he subjugated all 
around him. 

His domestic difficulties, and conjugal jars, which 
had been for some years daily becoming more embitter- 
ed and distressing, reached to their climax at this pe- 
riod. That he was blameless in this dissention, it would 
be wrong to allege $ but that public rumor and prejudice 
have magnified his culpability, may reasonably be pre- 
sumed, when we reflect, that the sympathies of the 
world are very properly always enlisted on the side of 
the female, as the weakest party, most liable to op- 
pression, and least disposed to aggress or injure. As a 
general rule, this is no doubt a sound one ; and we shall 
accordingly throw the mantle of forgetfulness over 
foibles, which charity alone would conceal, and which 
now, to parade to the searching eye of scandal, or curio- 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 39 

sity, could answer no useful purpose, either of morality 
or knowledge. It is sufficient to know that the temper 
of Girard was high, inflammatory, and jealous $ disposed 
to be arbitrary, and not often liable to relax, or apt to 
conciliate. How far this temperament conduced to im- 
pair the intellect of his wife, it is not material to inquire ; 
but it appears that her deportment authorized her con- 
finement as a lunatic $ for I find that Mary Girard was 
admitted an insane patient into the Pennsylvania Hospi- 
tal on the 21st day of August, 1790 $ in which recepta- 
cle, she died, on the 13th September, 1815 ; having suf- 
fered a confinement in that Institution, of twenty-Jive 
years and one month. At the request of her husband, 
she was buried in the lawn of the north front of the 
Hospital i and her grave, marked only by a simple mound 
of earth, is carefully preserved, and may still be seen $ 
and no doubt, will continue to be preserved, whilst that 
excellent institution endures, in consideration of her 
husband's bequest to forward its noble and humane 
objects. 

As soon as Girard was informed of the death of his 
wife, he proceeded to the hospital, and gave directions 
to have her body interred, where it now reposes ; re- 
questing to be sent for, when every preparation for the 
burial had been completed. Towards the close of the 
day, after the sun had withdrawn his last beams from 
the tallest sycamore that shades the garden, Mr. Gi- 
rard was sent for$ and when he arrived, the plain cof- 
fin of Mary Lum was carried forward in silence to her 
humble resting place, in profound silence. The burial 
was conducted after the manner of the Friends, who have 
the management of the Institution. After a silence of 
a few minutes, the coffin was lowered into the grave — 
when another silent pause ensued. Girard then bent 
over the coffin and bestowed a last look upon his deceased 
wife, for a minute ; then, leaving the grave, observed to 



40 BIOGRAPHY OF 

Samuel Coates, — « It is very well $'■' and immediately 
returned home. 

Upon this occasion, he bestowed on the Hospital, 
£\\25 Pennsylvania currency, or three thousand dollars. 
To the nurses, attendants and others, he also made pre- 
sents of small sums. 

On the 3d of March, 1791, Mrs. Girard, seven months 
after her admission into the Hospital, gave birth to a 
daughter, in the presence of Doctors Hutchinson, Gardi- 
ner, and Cutbush. To this, the only child of Stephen 
Girard, was given the name of Mary. She was put to 
nurse, out of the Hospital, by her father, who took every 
care, and spared no expense to rear her; but it died in 
infancy — leaving Girard childless? and an utter stranger 
to the cares or the pleasures of a father. 

Previous to the donation of 3000 dollars, which he 
presented to the Hospital upon the death of his wife, 
he had bestowed upon that Institution, jgl227 31 cents, 
ten pounds of which was his/ee, constituting him a mem- 
ber of the Corporation. = 

It has been alleged by some, but the suspicion is ut- 
terly groundless, that his wife was not deranged $ and 
that a motive, the very reverse of humanity, had 
prompted Girard to place her in confinement. But the 
character of those who presided over the management 
of the Pennsylvania Hospital, appears to be a sufficient 
refutation of this unworthy surmise. Had she been op- 
pressed, her family would not have been slow to redress 
her wrongs, even if society had neglected to interfere in 
her behalf. 

Whatever may have been the real culpability of her hus- 
band, there is something touching, about the history of this 
unfortunate woman ; raised from humble indigence to 
splendid fortune ; yet denied the gratification of tasting 
of those enjoyments of life, which attend opulence— 
and at last, dying in a Hospital^ and buried in its grounds* 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 4 i 

with no eye to shed a tear ; no heart to respire a sigh 
over the grave of the wife of Stephen Girard ! Vain 
pomp of wealth, how idle are thy supposed blessings ! 
How fallacious are the hopes inspired by the glitter of 
hat gold, which often turns to poison, e-re the cup of 
pleasure reaches the lip to quaff its delicious contents. — 
Had fortune cast her destiny in a poorer scale, had she 
been the industrious wife of a hard working mechanic, 
how superior might have been her lot — how enviable 
and happy her condition ! But the wife of a rich and 
arbitrary man, whose fortune enabled him to defy public 
opinion, and whose temper made him reckless of all 
consequences; she could scarcely hope for a better re- 
fuge than insanity, or a more comfortable home than 
a hospital. 

From the moment he dissolved partnership with his 
brother, his career in the race of wealth, became sur- 
prisingly rapid. It seemed as if a yoke fellow had be- 
numbed the natural elasticity of his spirit, and released 
from the shackle, he bounded with his native speed to 
the regions of gold. He still, however, continued in 
the West India trade, particularly to St Domingo, in 
which he had two vessels ; and which continued to be- 
come more and more profitab^ from day to day, until 
the breaking out of the insurrection of the negroes at that 
island ; at which time he had a brig and a schooner at 
Cape Frangaise. In the panic and horror of the moment, 
numbers rushed to the ships in the harbor, to deposit their 
most valuable property, and returning, met an unex- 
pected doom from the hands of their slaves. In this 
manner the most precious valuables were deposited in 
his vessels, whose proprietors and heirs were cut off, by 
the ruthless sword of massacre. The ships in the har- 
bor hastened their departure, and much of the unclaimed 
and heirless property, justly fell to the lot of the owners. 
Girard received a large accession to his wealth by this 



42 BIOGRAPHY OF 

terrific scourge of the hapless planters of St Domingo. 
All heirship was swept away, in the total extinguish- 
ment of entire families, and the most extensive advertising 
failed to produce a legal claimant to the property thus 
poured into his lap. Under these circumstances, it was 
justly, though fortunately acquired ; and though thou- 
sands might envy, none were found to condemn him. 

It must not, however, be imagained that all of his 
wealth had been thus derived $ or, that without genius, 
industry, or perseverance, he could ever have risen to 
the possession of millions. The largest amount he 
received from St. Domingo, to which no heirs were 
found, could not have exceeded fifty thousand dollars ; 
so that after all, his amazing success in business can 
only be ascribed to his talents, his perseverance and his 
industry. 

Several years after the dissolution of the partnership 
between the brothers, John Girard died, in the West 
Indies, leaving his brother Stephen, executor to his es- 
tate. From some eccentricity of views, however, pro- 
bably under the conviction that a knowledge of having 
inherited money from their father, might excite ideas 
of independence incompatible with the strict rigor of 
his authority, he cons^ntly kept his neices, who were 
then young, in utter ignorance of the estate of their fa- 
ther ; and they were consequently brought up under the 
impression that they were solely endebted to their uncle 
for their education and maintenance ; nor was it until 
the marriage of Antoinette to Mr. Hemphill, that he 
rendered an account of his brother John's estate, and 
invested her portion of it in stock on her account. The 
amount of which shows that John must have died a 
rich man. When we consider the singular peculiari- 
ties of this extraordinary man, this concealment from 
their knowledge of their paternal estate, can hardly 
excite surprise. It was one of those plans, of which 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 43 

he seems to have been very partial, of rendering all 
around him implicitly submissive to his humors and 
authority \ and without which expedient, in this in- 
stance, he could not have retained that command over 
his neices, which, however, he might soften it by the 
occasional native goodness of his heart, he deemed 
indispensable to the exercise of a controlling power. 
In one sense, it was an innocent stratagem upon their 
gratitude, and in another, it was a culpable, if not cruel 
invasion upon the limits of filial love and veneration, and 
paternal care and solicitude. The purity of his motive, 
however, and the good which he contemplated to ac- 
complish by the finesse, cannot be doubted — though 
the means he adopted may not be approved. In the 
years 1791 and '92, he commenced building those splen- 
did ships, which subsequently contributed to swell his 
fortune, and expand the commerce of Philadelphia, by 
the importation of rich cargoes from Canton and Cal- 
cutta. The names of those vessels bespeak with suffi- 
cient accuracy the bent of his mind, and the nation of 
his birth. The Montesquieu, Helvetius, Voltaire, and 
Rousseau, show the combination of Philosopher and 
Merchant j and indicate the high respect and reverence 
which he cherished for those illustrious names, their 
imperishable works, and their beautiful, but dangerous 
doctrines. 

The ambition of growing rich for the sake of distinc- 
tion, and of dying rich for the sake of immortality, must 
have been full blown in his heart at this period. Am- 
bition of any kind, permits no rival passion to divide 
its sway \ not less the ambition of riches, than the am- 
bition of power. When this master passion once takes 
possession of the soul, all other avenues to the heart 
close ; and one sense alone remains to engross the per- 
ceptions of the entire man. 

The sympathies of Stephen Girard, therefore, were 

E 



44 BIOGRAPHY OF 

not with the common race of merchants, or the every- 
day order of men : he had no responsive throb for the 
multitude, who look to the enjoyment of the present 
moment, or the accumulation of money as a means of 
enjoying, or imparting happiness to the living world, 
content to consume what they produced, or to dis- 
perse the superflux to those incapable of acquisition $ 
and who are utterly indifferent to the great hereafter of 
renown. His passions, as I have observed, were pow- 
erful, and in their concentrated forms, occasionally 
assumed a tremendous shape, corresponding to the 
great scope of his ambition. I must now be understood 
to allude to his intellectual, not his physical passions. 
The latter he was wise enough to bow to, and no doubt 
took delight in their transient gratification, careful ne- 
ver to sacrifice duty to pleasure, or to neglect business 
for enjoyment $ but even at the moment of his most en- 
raptured pleasures, he despised the transient feelings 
of the body, for the immortal and sublime contempla- 
tion of fame — of surviving in his deeds, the dissolution 
of his frame, and making the weakness of mankind tri- 
butary to the perpetuation of his name. Physical na- 
ture, for who can resist it, often found him a prostrate 
votary at its smoking altar $ but its reign and suprema- 
cy were fleeting, and soon left him undivided empire 
over his favorite domain of enterprise and intellect. 
From this moment, ambition smote down all the smaller 
passions, all the minor feelings. His sympathies rose 
above those of the crowd, to mix with the visions of the 
demigods of ancient time 5 and in his day dreams to 
hold converse with the founders of cities, or the pre- 
servers of empires, that he might learn of Romulus, of 
Solon, and of Lycurgus, how to rise to their renown, 
and enjoy their immortality. From this time, he thought 
and felt for his name only — for as to family, and a nu- 
merous and beloved offspring, "a barren sceptre had 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 45 

been placed within his gripe, no son of his inheriting." 
What then should he look to for renown ? To what 
should he cling, to transmit his name to posterity , and 
make him one of the family of the great world of spirits 
who survive the body- — as well as one of those moving 
idols, whom the world adore whilst living, for their 
merit ? To money, — to millions only could he look, as 
the medium between him and after times — or as the 
substitute for those high attributes, which have made 
a Homer, a Caesar, or a Plato. It was not, therefore, 
the mere lust of so much pence, "to be grasped thus," 
that gave to his eccentric and stern spirit, its silent, 
dark, and wayward course in the career of gain. De- 
nied by a cruel destiny, though in its results so fortu- 
nate, of the benefits of refined education — yet feeling his 
power of mind swell to the vastness of the fame he 
longed for, his great and wayward spirit soaring to its 
native height, and spurning the contempt of the great 
who surrounded him— resolved to consecrate his name 
through the medium of riches. 

Let us not, however, misconceive his real character, 
amidst this formidable picture of his ambition. When 
I say that his sympathies never beat in response to the 
sympathies of common men, it must be understood to 
express a disposition and train of thought peculiar to 
himself, though liable to exceptions, as is always the 
case with men of great but eccentric faculties. Ste- 
phen Girard pursued riches with an industry that knew 
not what it was to be weary, and a perseverance that 
would acknowledge no boundary line short of the grave $ 
but what was his object ? Not a gorgeous equipage 
for childish display! Not a sumptuous palace — not 
to decorate his wife with the gewgaws of eastern mines 
— the finery of French looms, or the curious nothings 
of Chinese ingenuity! Not to pension his children 
in idle voluptuousness — endow his daughters richly, that 



46 



BIOGRAPHY OF 



they might coerce important matrimonial alliances, or 
increase their standing, or force their way into good 
society ! Not to boast of his bank stock, his houses, 
his ships, or his piles of gold and silver ! No— this 
was the common object of common men ; but not of 
Girard ! He pursued the acquisition of wealth, in 
order to base his renown on the benefits he would con- 
fer upon after generations — to have the songs of people 
unborn, chanted in his praise — and to live forever in 
despite of his humble origin, his blemished form, his 
meek deportment of person, his destitution of classical 
education, profound science, and elegant erudition. 
This is not a matter of conjecture or imagination. His 
own lips avowed the laudable hope;, when he said to me 
— "My deeds must be my life. When I am dead, my 
actions must speak for me !" The tenor of his will, too, 
records it as an historical fact. His millions, entailed 
in the corporation of Philadelphia forever, as the bene- 
faction of Stephen Girard, ploclaim his ambition, while 
they attest to his benevolence. 

But in the general train of his thoughts, Girard was 
a singular, and an extraordinary man, as well as in the 
customary channels of his feelings. Sympathy, feeling, 
friendship, pity, love or commiseration, were emotions 
that never ruffled the equanimity of his mind ; at least 
to such a degree, as to relax his energy of accumulation, 
or impair the mass of money, that rose like mountains 
round about him. Morose in his general temper, 
though capable of acting with the most affable, pleasing, 
and insinuating art — his very appearance proclaimed to 
all, that he was devoted to contemplations of an al-lab- 
sorbing character. Friends, relations, old companions, 
confidential agents, or the general family of mankind, 
might sicken and die around him, and he would not 
part with his money to relieve and save one among them ; 
but stood unmoved, like the eternal statue of death, with 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 47 

the waves of human misery beating at his feet. Misery 
and want might groan in their humble cells, and the big 
tear of wo blind the eye — but he heard and saw them 
not, when his gold was asked. Pity might plead, but 
ambition had left no sense open to her prayers : — His 
pity, his charity, his benevolence, were all to descend to 
posterity, in order that the act which relieved their want 
and succored their wo, might at the same time, conse- 
crate him to fame. When he gave, in his life-time, it 
was to public institutions, who enrolled his name in let- 
ters of gold, in the imperishable catalogue of their bene- 
factors. 

Such was the extraordinary, benevolent, and heroic 
man, who now stepped forth from amidst his riches, to 
embrace the clammy body of expiring disease ; and in 
the effort to save human life, even in the meanest of his 
fellow mortals, inhaled the suffocating breath of pesti- 
lence, and braved death and horror in all their varied 
forms of human affliction. What a wonderful compound 
of practical benevolence in his own person^nd total insen- 
sibility to wo in his heart, when his purse was appealed 
to ! A clue to this apparent inconsistency, can no doubt 
be found in that occasional variation of character, and 
rise and fall of feeling, which pervades the fluctuating 
constitution of man. 

The yellow fever of 1793, excited all the energies of 
his mind, and brought into full play that latent benevo- 
lence of his heart, which I would rather suspect to have 
sometimes laid dormant, than to have had no existence ; 
for his life, in spite of the mercenary nature of his pur- 
suits, would occasionally glow with a beam of sympathy 
for the sufferings of his fellow-creatures, and unveil the 
native dignity of the man, from the disguise of the vo- 
tary of Plutus. 

Our nature shudders with irresistible and instinctive 
horror, when we recall to mind, the dreadful ravages 

E3 



48 BIOGRAPHY OF 

of the malignant fever of 1793, among the inhabitants 
of Philadelphia. The dread of contagion drove parents 
from their children, and even wives from their husbands. 
All the ties of affection and consanguinity were rent 
assunder, and humanity was left to mourn over its own 
selfishness, in the ardor of self-preservation. The scene 
of distress, as drawn by the faithful and eloquent pen of 
one of the Philanthropists of that day, who nobly step- 
ped forward to arrest its devastations and mitigate its 
terrors, Mathew Carey, Esq. shows into what a depth 
of wo and despondency the metropolis had fallen, when 
Stephen Girard and his companions, stood forward in 
the shape of ministering angels, to provide an asylum 
for the sick, and procure nurses, doctors, medicines, 
and necessaries for the poor, the helpless, and the dying. 

The following is the description of that terrific afflic- 
tion, from a pamphlet by M. Carey : 

"The consternation of the people of Philadelphia, at 
this period, was carried beyond all bounds. Dismay and 
affright were visible in almost every person's counte- 
nance. Most of those who could, by any means, make 
it convenient, fled from the city. Of those who remained, 
many shut themselves up in their houses, being afraid to 
walk the streets. The smoke of tobacco being regarded 
as a preventive, many persons, even women and small 
boys, had segars almost constantly in their mouths. 
Others, placing full confidence in garlic, chewed it al- 
most the whole day ; some kept it in their pockets and 
shoes. Many were afraid to allow the barbers or hair- 
dressers to come near them, as instances had occurred 
of some of them having shaved the dead, and many 
having engaged as bleeders. Some, who carried their 
caution pretty far, bought lancets for themselves, not 
daring to allow themselves to be bled with the lancets of 
the bleeders. Many houses were scarcely a moment in 
the day, free from the smell of gunpowder, burned to- 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 49 

bacco, nitre, sprinkled vinegar, &c. Some of the churches 
were almost deserted, and others wholly closed. The 
coffee-house was shut up, as was the city library, and most 
of the public offices — three, out of the four, daily papers 
were discontinued,* as were some of the others. Many 
devoted no small portion of their time to purifying, 
scouring, and white-washing their rooms. Those who 
ventured abroad, had handkerchiefs or sponges, impreg- 
nated with vinegar or camphor, at their noses, or smell- 
ing-bottles full of thieves' vinegar. Others carried pieces 
of tarred rope in their hands or pockets, or camphor 
bags tied round their necks. The corpses of the most 
respectable citizens, even of those who had not died of 
the epidemic, were carried to the grave on the shafts of 
a chair, the horse driven by a negro, unattended by a 
friend or relation, and without any sort of ceremony. 
People uniformly and hastily shifted their course at the 
sight of a hearse coming towards them. Many never 
walked on the foot-path, but went into the middle of the 
streets, to avoid being infected in passing houses wherein 
people had died. Acquaintances and friends avoided each 
other in the streets, and only signified their regard by a 
cold nod. The old custom of shaking hands, fell into 
such general disuse, that many shrunk back with affright 
at even the offer of the hand. A person with a crape, or 
any appearance of mourning, was shunned like a viper. 
And many valued themselves highly on the skill and 
address with which they got to windward of every person 
whom they met. Indeed it is not probable that London, 
at the last stage of the plague, exhibited stronger marks 

* It would be improper to pass over this opportunity of mention- 
ing*, that the Federal Gazette, printed by Andrew Brown, was un- 
interruptedly continued, and with the usual industry, during the 
whole calamity, and was of the utmost service, in conveying to the 
citizens of the United States authentic intelligence of the state of 
the disorder, and of the city. 



£0 BIOGRAPHY Of 

of terror* than were to be seen in Philadelphia, from the 
25th or 26th of August, till late in September.' When 
the citizens summoned resolution to walk abroad, and 
take the air, the sick cart conveying patients to the hospi- 
tal, or the hearse carrying the dead to the grave, which 
were travelling almost the whole day, soon damped their 
spirits, and plunged them again into despondency. 

" While affairs were in this deplorable state, and peo- 
ple at the lowest ebb of despair, we cannot be astonished 
at the frightful scenes that were acted, which seemed to 
indicate a total dissolution of the bonds of society in the 
nearest and dearest connections. Who, without horror, 
can reflect on a husband, married, perhaps for twenty 
years, deserting his wife in the last agony — a wife, un- 
feelingly, abandoning her husband on his death-bed — 
parents forsaking their children — children ungratefully 
flying from their parents, and resigning them to chance, 
often without an inquiry after their health or safety — 
masters hurrying off their faithful servants to Bush-hill, 
even on suspicion of the fever, and that at a time, when, 
almost like Tartarus, it was open to every visitant, but 
rarely returned any— servants abandoning tender and 
humane masters, who only wanted a little care to re- 
store them to health and usefulness — who, I say, can 
think of these things, without horror ? Yet they were 
often exhibited throughout our city ; and such was the 
force of habit, that the parties who were guilty of this 
cruelty, felt no remorse themselves — nor met with the 
censure from their fellow-citizens, which such conduct 
would have excited at any other period. Indeed, at this 
awful crisis, so much did self appear to engross the 
whole attention of many, that in some cases not more 
concern was felt. for the loss of a parent, a husband, a 
wife, or an only child, than, on other occasions, would 
have been caused by the death of a faithful servant. 

"This kind of conduct produced scenes of distress 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 51 

and misery, of which parallels are rarely to be met with, 
and which nothing could palliate, but the extraordinary 
public panic, and the great law of self-preservation, the 
dominion of which extends over the whole animated 
world. Men of affluent fortunes, who have given daily 
employment and sustenance to hundreds, have been 
abandoned to the care of a negro, after their wives, chil- 
dren, friends, clerks, and servants, had fled away, and 
left them to their fate. In some cases, at the com- 
mencement of the disorder, no money could procure 
proper attendance. With the poor, the case was, as 
might be expected, infinitely worse than with the rich. 
Many of these have perished, without a human being to 
hand them a drink of water, to administer medicines, 
or to perform any charitable office for them. Various 
instances have occurred, of dead bodies found lying in 
the streets* of persons who had no house or habitation, 
and could procure no shelter.* 

? A man and his wife, once in affluent circumstances, 
were found lying dead in bed, and between them was 
their child, a little infant, who was sucking its mother's 
breast. How long they had lain thus, was uncertain. 

" A woman, whose husband had just died of the fever, 
was seized with the pains of parturition, and had nobody 
to assist her, as the women in the neighbourhood were 
afraid to go into the house. She lay, for a considerable 
time, in a degree of anguish that will not bear descrip- 
tion. At length, she struggled to reach the windows, 
and cried out for assistance. Two men, passing by, 
went up stairs ; but they came at too late a stage. — She 
was striving with death — and actually, in a few minutes, 
expired in their arms. 

" Another woman, whose husband and two children 

* The novel of Arthur Mervyn, by C. B. Brown, gives a vivid and 
terrifying picture, probably not too highly coloured, of the horrors 
of that period. 



52 BIOGRAPHY OF 

lay dead in the room with her, was in the same situation 
as the former, without a midwife, or any other person 
to aid her. Her cries at the window brought up one of 
the carters employed by the committee for the relief of 
the sick. With his assistance she was delivered of a 
child, which died in a few minutes, as did the mother, 
who was utterly exhausted by her labor, by the disorder, 
and by the dreadful spectacle before her. And thus lay, 
in one room, no less than five dead bodies, an entire 
family, carried off within a few hours. Instances have 
occurred, of respectable women, who, in their lying-in, 
have been obliged to depend on their maid-servants, for 
assistance — and some have had none but from their hus- 
bands. Some of the midwives were dead — and others 
had left the eity. 

"A servant girl, belonging to a family in this city, in 
which the fever had prevailed, was apprehensive of dan- 
ger, and resolved to remove to a relation's house, in t v 
country. She was, however, taken sick on the road, an# 
returned to town, where she could find no person to re- 
ceive her. One of the guardians of the poor provided a 
cart, and took her to the Alms House, into which she 
was refused admittance. She was brought back, but the 
guardian could not procure her a single night's lodging. 
And in fine, after every effort made to provide her shelter, 
she absolutely expired in the cart. This occurrence 
took place before Bush-hill hospital was opened. 

"To relate all the frightful casps of this nature that oc- 
curred, would fill a volume. To pass them over wholly 
would have been improper — to dwell on them longer 
would be painful. Let these few, therefore, suffice. 
But I must observe, that most of them happened in the 
first stage of the public panic. Afterwards, when the 
citizens recovered a little from their fright, they became 
rare. 

" These horrid circumstances having a tendency to 



STEPHEN GXRARB. 53 

throw a shade over the human character, it is proper to 
shed a little light on the subject, wherever justice and 
truth will permit. Amidst the general abandonment of 
the sick that prevailed, there were to be found many 
illustrious instances of men and women, some in the 
middle, others in the lower spheres of life, who, in the 
exercise of the duties of humanity, exposed themselves 
to dangers, which terrified men, who had often faced 
death without fear, in the field of battle. Some of them, 
alas ! have fallen in the good cause! But why should 
they be regretted ? never could they have fallen more 
gloriously. Foremost in this noble groupe, stands Jo- 
seph Inskeep, a most excellent man in all the social re- 
lations of citizen, brother, husband, and friend. — To the 
sick and forsaken, has he devoted his hours, to relieve 
and comfort them in their tribulation, and his kind 
assistance was dealt out with almost equal freedom to 
atter- stranger as to his bosom friend. Numerous 
^re the instances of men restored, by his kind cares and 
attention, to their families, from the very jaws of death. 
In various cases has he been obliged to put dead bodies 
into coffins, when the relations had fled from the mourn- 
ful and dangerous office. ^The merit of Andrew Ad- 
gate, Joab Jones, James Wilson, Jacob Tompkins, and 
Daniel Offley, in the same way? was conspicuous, and 
of the last importance to numbers of distressed crea- 
tures, bereft of every other comfort. The Rev. Mj\ 
Fleming, the Rev. Mr. Graessel and the Rev. Mr. Win- 
kause, exhausted themselves by a successsion of labors, 
day and night, attending on the sick, and ministering 
relief to their spiritual and temporal wants. 

"Of those who have happily survived their dangers, 
and are preserved to their fellow citizens, I shall men- 
tion a few. They enjoy the supreme reward of a self- 
approving conscience ; and I readily believe, that in 
the most secret recesses, remote from the public eye. 



54 BIOGRAPHY Ofl 

they would have done the same. But next to the sense 
of having done well, is the approbation of our friends 
and fellow-men | and when the debt is great, and the 
only payment that can be made is applause, it is surely 
the worst species of avarice, to withhold it. We are 
always ready, too ready, alas ! to bestow censure — and, 
as if anxious lest we should not give enough, we gene- 
rally heap the measure. When we are so solicitous to de- 
ter by reproach from folly, vice, and crime, why not be 
equally disposed to stimulate to virtue and heroism, by 
freely bestowing the well-earned plaudit ? Could I sup- 
pose that in any future equally dangerous emergeney, 
the opportunity I have seized of bearing my feeble testi- 
mony, in favor of those worthy persons, would be a 
means of exciting others to emulate their heroic virtue, 
it would afford me the highest consolation I have ever 
experienced. 

" The Rev. Henry Helmuth's merits are of the most 
exalted kind. His whole time, during the prevalence 
of the disorder, was spent in the performance of works 
of mercy, visiting and relieving the sick, comforting 
the afflicted, and feeding the hungry. Of his congrega- 
tion, some hundreds have paid the last debt to nature, 
since the malignant fever began ; and I believe he at- 
tended nearly the whole of them. To so many dangers 
was he exposed, that he stands a living miracle of pre- 
servation. The Rev. C. V. Keating, the Rev. Mr. 
Ustick, and the Rev. Mr. Dickens, have been in the 
same career, and performed their duties to the sick with 
equal fidelity, and with equal danger. The venerable 
old citizen, Samuel Robeson, has been like a good angel, 
indefatigably performing, in families where there was 
not one person able to help another, even the menial 
offices of the kitchen, in every part of his neighborhood. 
Thomas Allibone, Lambert Wilmer, Levi Hollings- 
worth, John Barker, Hannah Paine, John Hutchinson, 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 55 

and great numbers of others have distinguished them- 
selves by the kindest offices of disinterested humanity. 
Magnus Miller, Samuel Coates, and other good citizens, 
in that time of pinching distress and difficulty, advanced 
sums of money to individuals whose resources were cut 
off, and who, though accustomed to a life of indepen- 
dence, were absolutely destitute of the means of subsist- 
ence. And as the widow's mite has been mentioned in 
scripture with so much applause, let me add, that a 
worthy widow, whose name I am grieved I cannot men- 
tion, came to the city hall, and, out of her means, which 
are very moderate, offered the committee twenty dollars 
for the relief of the poor. John Connelly has spent 
hours beside the sick, when their wives and children 
had abandoned them. Twice did he catch the disorder 
— twice was he on the brink of the grave, which was 
yawning to receive him — yet,unappalled by the imminent 
danger he had escaped, he again returned to the charge. 
I feel myself affected at this part of my subject, with 
emotions, which I fear my unanimated style is ill calcu- 
lated to transfuse into the breast of my reader. I wish 
him to dwell on this part of the picture, with a degree of 
exquisite pleasure equal to what I feel in the description. 
When we view man in this light, we lose sight of his 
feebleness, his imperfection, his vice — he resembles, in 
a small degree, that divine Being, who is an inexhausti- 
ble mine of mercy and goodness. And, as a human 
being, I rejoice, that it has fallen to my lot, to be a wit- 
ness and recorder of a magnanimity, which would alone 
be sufficient to rescue the character of mortals from ob- 
loquy and reproach." 

It is not within the scope of this work to enter into a 
minute history of the fever of 1793 ; or to portray the 
humane exertions of all the benevolent individuals, who 
then, in the true spirit which tests manhood and mercy, 
volunteered to hush the cry of expiring anguish, or 

F 



56 BIOGRAPHY OF 

arrest the ravages of a mortal and hideous malady. Many 
of our venerable citizens, largely partook of the dangers, 
privations, and toils of that dark hour; but my task is 
confined to narrating the part which was performed in 
that crisis by the extraordinary subject of this biography. 
When Girard made a proffer of his services, in the fever 
of 1793, it was not merely to aid by his council, or co- 
operate by his money, in alleviating the calamity of his 
fellow-citizens ;— but it was to undertake in person, the 
performance of the most laborious, and loathsome duties 
of a nurse in the public Hospital, for those who were 
then labouring under, and hourly dying of malignant 
fever ! It was not the mere influence of a name thfct Gi- 
rard proffered for the benefit of his suffering fellow- 
creatures — but the free use of his hands and his head, on 
all occasions, and for all purposes. We have already 
seen, that he never attached ideas of degradation to any 
occupation that was useful, and his offer of acting as 
nurse on this occasion tested that feeling deeply. The 
act spoke the man. It was not the practice of Girard to 
talk, or to boast, without acting. He was made for 
great deeds in extreme emergencies; to act with the 
most calm fortitude in the most appalling times ; and 
rolling up his sleeves to his elbows, he entered on his 
duty, prepared to discharge it at the peril of his life. — 
We here behold the accumulator of wealth in a new 
character. Suddenly all his ideas of profit and gain are 
abandoned. He comes forth the champion of humanity 
and serves her cause with unshrinking fidelity and devo- 
tion, instead of flying on the wings of his wealth to a 
place of safety, to enjoy ease, affluence, and luxury ! — 
Mr. Carey in his pamphlet, gives this description of his 
conduct : 

M At the meeting on Sunday, September 15th, a cir- 
cumstance occurred, to which the most glowing pencil 
could hardly do justice. Stephen Girard, a wealthy 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 57 

merchant, a native of France, and one of the members 
of the committee, sympathising with the wretched situ- 
ation of the sufferers at Bush-hill, voluntarily and unex- 
pectedly offered himself as a manager, to superintend 
that hospital. The surprise and satisfaction excited by 
this extraordinary effort of humanity, can be better con- 
ceived than expressed, Peter Helm, a native of Penn- 
sylvania, also a member, actuated by the like benevolent 
motives, offered his services in the same department. 
Their offers were accepted ; and the same afternoon they 
entered on the execution of their dangerous and praise- 
worthy office.* 

"To form a just estimate of the value of the offer of 
these citizens, it is necessary to take into consideration 
the general consternation which at that period pervaded 
every quarter of the city, and which caused attendance 
on the sick to be regarded as little less than a certain 
sacrifice. Uninfluenced by any reflections of this kind, 
without any possible inducement but the purest mo- 
tives of humanity, they magnanimously offered them- 
selves as the forlorn hope of the committee. I trust 
that the gratitude of their fellow-citizens will be as en- 
during as the memory of their beneficent conduct, which 
I hope will not die with the present generation." 

The following anecdote, too well authenticated to 
admit of a doubt, illustrates the intrepid humanity of 
Girard in so striking a light, that I feel bound to re- 
cord it, as incontestible evidence that whatever may have 
been the eccentricities, or the ambition of this singular 
man, his benevolence and his fortitude can never be dis- 
paraged, notwithstanding we may adopt theories to ex- 
plain his character, that may lead to conclusions, not 
always as favorable to his heart, as to his head. 

* The management of the interior department was assumed by 
Stephen Girard — of the exterior, by Peter Helm. 



58 BIOGRAPHY OF 

A Mr. T. of this city, had been induced, like most 
other citizens, to move with his family out of Philadel- 
phia, to avoid the ravages of the yellow fever, which 
was then making fearful havoc. Previous engagements, 
however, rendered it necessary for him to visit the city 
almost every day, and unfortunately, his presence was 
demanded in Walnut street, a few doors below Second. 
This was a fearful neighbourhood, as the fever was rag- 
ing in a shocking degree in "Farmer's Row," leading 
from Dock street, only a few doors from his place of 
resort. For several days Mr. T. felt that he was earn- 
ing the name of a man of courage at a fearful risk, to 
venture into such a vicinity ; but his business was im- 
perative, and he continued to yield to its demands, of 
course with all those precautions which science or kind- 
ness suggested. One day, Mr. T. turned the corner 
Walnut and Second street, and went a few steps down 
the latter street, until he came opposite the avenue called 
Farmer's Row. There pestilence had chased away 
every vestige of business — there was nothing to break 
the almost unearthly silence of the place, or give an 
idea that motion was an attribute of any object within 
view. He stood gazing at the buildings that contained 
the victims, living and dead, of the appalling disease, 
when suddenly the approach of a carriage, driven ra- 
pidly, by a black man, broke the silence of the place. 
The carriage was driven up in front of one of the frame 
buildings in the row ; the driver laid his whip back upon 
its top, bound his handkerchief close to his mouth, 
opened the door of his vehicle, and resumed his seat. 
A short thick-set man stepped from the coach, and went 
into one of the abodes of wretchedness. Interested in 
the result of such a movement involving such imminent 
danger, Mr. T. pressed his camphirated handkerchief 
closer to his face, and withdrew as far as he could, with- 
out losing sight of the carriage and the house. His 



Stephen girard. 59 

movement enabled him to look, though from a distance, 
into the door of the tenement. Shortly afterwards, he 
saw a slow movement on the stairs, as if some person 
was descending with difficulty. No noise, however, was 
heard, nor did there appear to be any other movement 
in the house. In a few minutes he distinguished the 
object of his solicitude approaching the outer door; at 
length he stood full in his view on the pavement. The 
man who had left the carriage had been into one of the 
chambers of the house, and had taken thence a human 
being who had probably been left without the least at- 
tendance, suffering with the yellow fever. The size of 
the sufferer did not allow the visiter to take him up in 
the mode for conveying him. As they were on the 
pavement, the right arm of the man supported in part 
of the sick person, and his left arm was thrown round 
him to press the emaciated body close to him, and pre- 
vent his falling; the feet of the sick man touched the 
ground, and his yellow cadaverous face rested against 
the cheek of his conductor $ every breath he exhaled 
poured over the nostrils and mouth of his supporter a 
volume of putrid effluvium, while his hair, long from 
neglect, and knotted and matted with filth, added to the 
disgusting and fearful spectacle. In this situation, the 
well man partly carried and partly dragged the sufferer 
to the carriage, in which, with great exertion, and after 
much time, he succeeded in placing him ; the driver, of 
course, refusing to aid in such a dangerous enterprise. 
The door of the carriage was drawn to by the person 
inside, and then they were driven slowly off, the sick 
man lying in the arms of the person who had brought 
him from his wretched abode. 

Who the sick man was, Mr. T. did not inquire ; but 
he who risked so much to help a human being that had 
no claims of consanguinity or friendship upon his ser- 

f 2 



60 BIOGRAPHY Off 

vices — he who thus did good to others, at such an im- 
mense hazard to himself, was 

STEPHEN GIRARD. 
It is highly probable, that this terrific malady had 
been often met with by Girard, in his numerous voyages 
to the West Indies, especially to St. Domingo ; and 
that familiarity had stripped it of much of that terror 
in which it appeared arrayed to our excited population. 
It is reasonable, therefore, to suppose, that to the eyes of 
Girard it was arrayed in colors far less terrific than 
those in which it glared upon the excited imaginations 
of the Americans, more particularly as he had been 
seasoned with the malady himself in other climates $ 
and the conviction was common to all the French, that 
in such cases the patient never became infected a second 
time. In general, the countrymen of Mr. Girard es- 
caped it; and when it did attack them, it was observed, 
that it seldom proved mortal. Dr. Monges was of this 
opinion ; and his own personal experience afforded a 
full corroboration of the fact. 

Among the other eccentricities of this wonderful com- 
pound of selfishness and benevolence, was the passion 
that he at all times manifested for nursing, quacking, and 
attending the sick; not only during the era of our malig- 
nant fevers, but at all seasons, and on all occasions that 
presented themselves. He was especially fond of dress- 
ing sores, administering medicines to his patients, chiefly 
simples of the vegetable world ; and proffering his me- 
dical assistance, such as it was, to all who were ailing. 
He had infallible cures for almost every disease, from 
a sore throat to a corn on the toe, a fit of the gout, or a 
paroxyism of the gravel. He used to tell his friends, 
"when you are sick, if any thing ails you, come to me, 
and I will cure you. Do not go to the Doctor, but come 
to me — I will cure you." 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 61 

What pleasure he derived from this humane employ- 
ment* distinct from that which doing good excites in a 
benevolent heart* it is not easy to conceive ; and yet such 
pleasure was doubtless experienced by Girard $ perhaps 
it gratified his self-love, and pleased him with the idea 
of his skill, knowledge, and importance. Yet it would 
be palpably and culpably unjust, to affirm, that his mo- 
tives were not purely benevolent, if we did not know 
that the human mind is scarcely susceptible of a pure 
motive. His sacrifices at Bush-hill, certainly manifest- 
ed a spirit of the most sincere and intrepid philanthro- 
py $ unless we were to trespass beyond the limits of 
human scrutiny into the deep sanctuaries of the heart, 
and resolve it into ambition, that all-absorbing master- 
spirit of the mind, which caused Diogines to inhabit his 
tub, and Plato to starve himself, on a diet of roots and 
water $ a passion which assumes all the shapes of Pro- 
teus, and reflects the varied tints of the cameleon. But 
whatever may have been the feeling that instigated him 
to his divine ministry of benevolence, it is certain that 
his actions had a most beneficent effect in mitigating 
human misery, for which he is entitled to our unqualifi- 
ed applause, and devout veneration— and for which, his 
worthy co-labourer, Matthew Carey, Esq. thus extols 
him : — 

6 'Before I conclude this chapter," says Mr. Carey, 
" let me add, that the perseverance of the managers of 
that hospital has been equally meritorious with their 
original magnanimous beneficence. During the whole 
calamity to this time, they have attended uninterruptedly, 
for six, seven, or eight hours a day, renouncing almost 
every care of private affairs. They have had a labori- 
ous tour of duty to perform. Stephen Girard, whose 
office was in the interior part of the hospital, has had to 
encourage and comfort the sick — to hand them necessaries 
and medicines — to wipe the sweat off their brows — and to 



62 BIOGRAPHY OF 

perform many disgusting offices of kindness for them, 
which nothing could render tolerable, but the exalted mo- 
tives that impelled him to this heroic conduct Peter Helm* 
his worthy coadjutor, displayed, in his department, 
equal exertions to promote the common good." 

After all the speculations which philosophy can in- 
dulge in, upon the character of this singular man, much 
reflection, and a long acquaintance with his peculiar ha- 
bits, have satisfied me, that the natural basis of his heart 
was undoubtedly constituted of the purest benevolence — 
an unaffected desire to promote the happiness of his 
fellow beings — mingled with a large stock of good na- 
ture, which sometimes sparkled into wit, or bordered 
upon humour ; but that the hard buffeting of a rude 
world, and his arduous struggles to escape from the 
gripe of its selfishness, to independence and competency, 
had incrusted it with what may be termed the lava of 
early misfortune, and peculiar hardships. It is not easy 
for a man who has felt the pressure of the iron foot of 
the world upon his heart, to cherish all at once an exu- 
berance of love for his fellow beings. This scoria of 
feeling might often be seen pressing upon his heart, 
almost to the total extinguishment of its warmth ; but 
still the original vigour of his benevolence would throw 
off some of this ungenerous weight; and sympa- 
thy and good nature would occasionally shine out 
from the brilliant opening, the more bright because 
contrasted with those dark masses of clouds that still 
on every side pressed upon, and gathered fast to its ob- 
scuration. Nature had evidently given him large and 
warm affections, as he was often seen to manifest in those 
periods of his history, when he grasped by the hand 
for the first time, his youthful nephews; but which, 
like a soldier caught in the weakness of a tear, he would 
suddenly brush away and summon his sterner feelings 
to his defence. Along with these affections, he had 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 63 

been gifted with vast powers of thought, sagacity, and 
reflection, which too often came in to check and arrest 
the flow of the heart. But such a career through life 
as he necessarily made, had contracted habits, which 
often proved more powerful than nature, or pressed 
her down under a sombre strata of self-interest, that 
rendered it, at some periods at least doubtful, whether 
benevolence or misanthrophy, had taken up their abode 
in his bosom. It is an oldj and for that reason, a true 
and wise observation, that as we descend towards the 
tomb, our affections, if they have ever been perverted, 
return to their natural youthful lustre and softness ; and 
what we were, when young, we become a second time, 
as we begin to tread on the margin of the grave. The 
crisis which unlocked the fingers of Girard from his 
property, near his last moments, restored his heart to 
its natural elasticity of benevolence; the living springs 
of sympathy for his kind, gushed forth afresh ; and the 
great and good man stood disenthralled of the tempo- 
rary crust, which the customs of a hard and selfish world 
had gathered about him. 

Few men who have had to struggle through life, in 
the manner of Stephen Girard, and have finally lived to 
see their labours crowned with even ordinary fortune, 
have been totally free from habits inimical to the full 
play of the softer affections, and more amiable sympa- 
thies of our nature. They attach more or less to all; 
and when we consider the extraordinary success of the 
subject of this biography, we have reason rather to be 
astonished, that he retained at all times so much bene- 
volence, than that he manifested no more. From all 
that I have heard of the prejudices existing against him, 
chiefly on account of his French origin, his close deal- 
ing, and his humble, meek, and plain exterior; I have 
ample reason to believe, that he was not treated very 
kindly by the world ; and that he grew rich in spite of 



64 BIOGRAPHY OF 

its envy, its opposition, and its malignity. That he pos- 
sessed a self-willed — self-poised, independent, and un- 
compromising spirit, is well known. And when the low 
point from which he started in life is considered — to- 
gether with his impatience to be independent of the 
world, its freaks, its envy, its humours, and its injustice, 
I can only compare him to a high mettled steed, who 
has to travel a rugged and acclivitous road, and who 
frets and foams to reach the summit, long before the 
last peak appears in the misty distance. With such a 
spirit, contemned by the proud — checked by his supe- 
riors — derided by the envious, and often aspersed by 
the malignant and the jealous — is it strange that the 
heart of this great man should turn from the world to 
his treasures, and inwardly resolve to carve out for 
himself, an imperishable monument, from the very god 
that it worshipped — and thus compel mankind to follow 
and applaud him in virtue of their own sordid idolatry? 
Yes — he resolved, that he too would show them, that he 
could create what would command all hearts, and allure 
all tongues in his praise $ that the humble Frenchman, 
plebeian as he was, could become equal in renown to the 
great founder of our city ; and that the name of Girard 
should be lisped by infant tongues, and extolled by aged 
wisdom, when that of Penn should be almost forgotten, 
and that of Franklin was only to be found in books. 

The Napoleon of Commerce, as Mr. Girard has been 
very truly and significantly designated, could not well be 
without his absolute power, as well as his profound reach 
of thought, and vast faculty of combination. It is the 
peculiar trait of genius, to accomplish its designs by 
means never pursued by common men. So it was with 
Girard. Throughout his long, eventful, and important 
life, for such it proved, as well to himself, as to his con- 
nexions, and to his adopted country — he acted without 
variation, or departure, in all his dealings and transac- 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 65 

tions with men, on the principle of "equivalents." He 
never permitted a feeling to enter into trade, and always 
held those in light estimation, who abated a particle of 
just demand on the score of friendship, favour, or polite- 
ness; but considered them as weak men, who were in- 
capable of business. He never gave but for service ren- 
dered, and never paid but for value received. Friendship, 
esteem, and even consanguinity were to him, as nothing, 
in the transactions of business. The equivalent, and 
the only equivalent with him, was money— or the proper- 
ty it represented. A bankrupt merchant might plead 
his misfortunes to Girard — but he only considered them 
in the light of so many follies, and shunned, in place of 
aiding, a man weak enough to be unfortunate. This 
was the true Napoleon method of success in trade \ but 
not to be imitated or admired, in a civilized and chris- 
tian community. Yet it is on this unvaried principle of 
his life, that we are to account for his immense accumu- 
lation of money, and the total neglect with which he 
treated the officers of his Bank, by omitting them in his 
Will, not deigning to leave one solitary token of remem- 
brance, for their zeal, fidelity, and long service, through 
a protracted period of years, to him of golden moment, 
and to them of incessant toil for meagre compensations. 
To his mind, the very idea must have appeared prepos- 
terous and silly ; for he deemed the equivalent of their 
salaries a full requital for their service ; and so, in strict 
justice, it was : but had we, poor human and frail beings 
that we are, no measure of good beyond what justice 
might decree to us, wretched indeed, would be our 
condition. The great bard of Nature has admira- 
bly expressed this sentiment in the following verse: — 

" Use every man after his own desert, and who shall 'scape whip- 
ping ? Use them after your honor and dignity : the less they de- 
serve, the more merit is in your bounty." — Hamlet to Polonius. 



66 felO&RAPHY Off 

This beautiful sentiment naturally associates with it, 
the character of a man, who, for forty years, acted in the 
capacity of his confidential agent and clerk ; and whose 
amiable and polite deportment will be remembered 
by all with that pleasure, which esteem, never fails 
to excite. The entire life of Mr. Roberjot was faithful- 
ly devoted to the service of Girard, from the dawn of 
day until the midnight hour. To Mr. Roberjot was Gi- 
rard indebted for services and labour, which could not 
fail to contribute to swell the fortune of his employer to 
its immense and unwieldy magnitude. But he paid 
him a small annual stipend, and deeming this salary a 
sufficient equivalent for his services, he was satisfied that 
no obligation remained behind to give more. Many ru- 
mours have obtained circulation, based on the munifi- 
cence of Girard towards his amiable and respected clerk, 
of donations and checks for large amounts ; but all this 
is the figment of a good-natured, but credulous world, 
acting on a benevolent feeling, and a just appreciation of 
the important, incessant, and obsequious services of the 
indefatigable Roberjot. I am fully warranted in saying, 
that he never received from Girard, any sum of money, 
or any article of value beyond his stipulated salary. 

The power of wealth, like that of empire, is naturally 
calculated to attract and fix thousands to follow its de- 
ceptive glare, allured by the fallacious hope, that some 
lucky moment will shake the golden fruit of patronage, 
or recompense into their laps ; and myriads join the 
throng to follow in the track of flattery, allegiance, or 
of service; year after year chanting the song of praise, 
until at last the charm dissolves, and they awake as from 
a dream, to mourn over their folly or execrate the weak- 
ness that induced them to number gratitude among the 
virtues of the rich, or include justice as one of the attri- 
butes of the powerful. 

I do not, however, mean to allege, that Stephen Gi- 



STEPHEN GIKARD. 



67 



rard was ungrateful; for who could confer a benefit 
upon him ? He hired every man at what he deemed a 
fair price y and when he paid him, he concluded, with strict 
equity, that the bargain was closed and consummated 
forever. Others might overrate themselves, or place a 
higher value on their services and talents than he did ; 
but his favourite maxim could not deceive him, when 
he had once settled it in his own mind, that he paid too 
dear for every thing, or at the highest rate of its value, 
without reference to what that rate might be. By this 
method of computing human service and labour, he was 
certain never to think that he owed a debt of sentiment, 
after he had paid the physical equivalent for labour, or 
service, or agency. But Girard was an utter stranger to 
sentiment; and having never felt its force, he could not 
obey its dictates. His mind was powerful, but not re- 
fined i it was the strength of Hercules, without a parti- 
cle of the grace of Apollo, or the feeling of Sappho. 
All his connections with men were placed on the same 
footing as the material commodities and merchandize, 
which he purchased by the hundred weight, or paid for 
by the square foot. He never looked to the man, as a 
being having any claims on his heart \ as a fellow of the 
common stock, made up of sympathies, passions, wants, 
and all those emotions which go to constitute the suscep- 
tibility of happiness or misery ; but in all his transac- 
tions, he regarded him simply as a physical agent, capa- 
ble of producing him such an amount of labour per 
annum, or such a per centage of profit per contract, 
purchase, or speculation. Fidelity, therefore, was 
never either highly estimated, or adequately rewarded 
by him — nor virtue respected as virtue— rnor talent pa- 
tronised or appreciated as talent, for these were moral 
qualities, of which he thought almost contemptuously, 
unless they acquired and produced wealth $ and in that 
case, coming on his own field of action, they instantly ex- 

G 



68 BIOGRAPHY OF 

cited his sympathy, his esteem, or his jealousy. It may 
be said that this is a stern, chilling, and rigid picture; 
but such was the man, and had he not been such, he 
never could have departed from this life, crowned with 
the renown of his millions, as greater than the founder 
of the city whose wealth he has doubled by his bequests. 
It is the true picture of a man towering over all others 
in riches ; and different from all others in his constitu- 
tion, habits, and thoughts. It is a faithful portrait of 
genius destitute of heart, but devoured by ambition. In 
his commercial transactions, this trait of his extraor- 
dinary character was more frequently exhibited than on 
other occasions, but examples might be cited without 
restriction to pursuits, times, or seasons. 

Captain Guligar had been seventeen years in his ser- 
vice, from an apprentice until he rose to the command 
of one of his favourite and finest ships. Having by dili- 
gence and industry been promoted to the berth of first 
officer, he sailed in that capacity to Batavia, in the Vol- 
taire or Rousseau. At Bataviathe Captain died, and Gu- 
ligar took the command of the ship $ sailed for Holland 
with a very rich cargo, and arrived to an excellent mar- 
ket. From Holland he brought the ship safe into the 
port of Philadelphia $ making altogether an immensely 
profitable voyage for his owner. Girard having con- 
cluded to repeat the voyage to Batavia, Captain Guligar 
being either averse to the climate, or from some other 
cause, observed to Mr. Girard, u that if he had no ob- 
jection, he would prefer taking the command of such a 
ship," naming her, which Girard was then loading for 
a port in Europe. Girard, without uttering a syllable in 
reply, called to Roberjot, and directed him to make out 
the accounts of Captain Guligar immediately. He dis- 
charged him on the same day from his employ — saying, 
"I do not make the voyage for my Captains — but for 
myself;" a declaration which no one acquainted with 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 69 

him, could possibly venture to dispute \ yet how little did 
he manifest of the man, or the gentleman, in this behavior. 

In the same manner, he never gave employment to 
any man from a feeling of friendship, esteem, or regard, 
but selected those best qualified, according to his own 
judgment $ as he would select the best Mocks, cordage, 
and plank, for his ships ; and without having more feel- 
ing or sentiment in the matter. If he had his javour- 
ites, their usefulness and subserviency determined his 
choice. A man thus wonderfully organised, out of the 
track of all other men, could hardly fail to grow rich, 
when once he had made riches the darling object of his 
heart, and the sole end of his life. 

Among his other singular traits of character, may be 
numbered his extreme frugality. The smallest sum 
was, at the period of his greatest wealth, a matter of 
deep concernment to him. He has been known to exert 
himself personally to obtain one, two, or three cents change, 
when paying for a purchase of live stock for one of his 
ships, or settling for a premium of insurance. An anec- 
dote has been communicated to me upon this subject, 
which I deem entitled to full credit, and is amply corro- 
borated by analagous instances. A gentleman from Eu- 
rope, who visited this country a few years since, had 
purchased in London, a bill of exchange on Mr. Gi- 
rard, to defray the expenses of his projected tour. 
The bill was of course, duly honoured upon presentation ; 
but in the course of their transactions, it so happened 
that one cent remained to be refunded on the part of the 
European ; and on the eve of his departure from this 
country, he was reminded by Girard that he was indebt- 
ed to him in that amount. The gentleman apologised 
for the inadvertent omission, and tendering a six and a 
quarter cent piece, requested the difference. Mr. Gi- 
rard returned him the change of jive cents, which the 
gentleman declined to accept, contending that according 



70 BIOGRAPHY OF 

to the specific value of the current money of the United 
States, that coin was of the value of six and a quarter 
cents ; and that consequently he was entitled to an addi- 
tional quarter of a cent ! In reply, Girard admitted the 
fact, but informed the European that it was not in his 
power to comply, alleging that the government had ne- 
glected to provide the fractional coin in question ; upon 
which he returned the gentleman the six cent piece, re- 
minding him at the same time, that as he could not ac- 
commodate him with the precise change, he must still 
consider him his debtor for the balance ! This tender, 
retender, and peculiar manner of surmounting the dif- 
ficulty, had a pleasing and compromising effect; the 
gentleman could not refrain from indulging a laugh, and 
the good nature of Girard getting the better of his. dis- 
appointment for not receiving so large a balance, he 
joined in the laugh, and after a cordial shake of hands, 
they separated, well pleased with each other. 

This retort of fractions was well sustained by the 
parties, in a manner perfectly characteristic of the 
closeness of the one, and the satirical rebuke of the 
other, by exacting a practical rule of justice, with which 
it was impossible to comply. This peculiar trait in the 
character of Girard, for his precise and exact mode of 
payment, has been experienced by all, who at any pe- 
riod have had business transactions with him. Exact in 
all things, he was sure to be exact to a fraction in all mo- 
ney due to him. In justification of this rigid require- 
ment of minute sums, he has been heard to say that he 
had settled it as a maxim in his own mind, never to give 
or receive without an equivalent, in the way of trade ; as 
this species of generosity relaxed the principles of fair 
dealing, without promoting either industry or benevo- 
lence ; that if one cent was remitted, abated, or overlook- 
ed, ten cents might in time come to be expected; and if 
ten cents, why not ten dollars, or a thousand dollars ? 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 71 

This reasoning, if not sound, was at least specious ; how- 
far it was sincere, is another question. It is not so easy, 
however, to vindicate another expedient to which he re- 
sorted for profit. He at one period of his changeful life, 
sold salt by the bushel, and conceiving that his measure 
or half bushel was too large, he determined to regulate or 
re-adjust it himself ; for this purpose he took a half gallon 
liquid measure, and repairing to the wharf, which was at 
that time constructed with steps, for the convenience of 
supplying the citizens with water from the river, he depo- 
sited the requisite number of half gallons into his half bush- 
el ; and then drawing a chalk line round the water mark, he 
found it was too large by an inch, or more ; when he went to 
a neighbouring cooper's shop, and borrowing a saw for 
the purpose, reduced the measure of his half bushel 
accordingly, to what he conceived it ought to be. This 
fact gave rise to the saying, * that Mr. Girard was a 
just man, but it was according to his own measure of 
justice.' 9 

It was evidently to this feature of his character that 
he was largely indebted for his immense and rapid ac- 
cumulation of wealth } thus acting on the maxim, * take 
care of the pence, and the pounds will take care of them- 
selves." It is chiefly in small sums that people in gene- 
ral spend most, and run into what we may properly 
denominate an imperceptible extravagance. No one 
understood this better than Stephen Girard ; and he 
acted on it upon all occasions, with inflexible scrupu- 
losity. 

During the life-time of my father, Mr. Girard had 
never ventured to interfere with the expenditures or eco- 
nomy of the bank, though he would sometimes throw out 
a remote intimation as to the increased value of money, 
adding that the salaries of the officers were very high ! 
But after his demise, this disposition to save all, as well 
as to gain all, became fully manifested, and he applied 

g2 



72 BIOGRAPHY OF 

the knife of economy to lop off the expenses, as freely 
as he did the pruning-hook to his shrubbery. He in- 
stantly fixed his scrutinising glance upon the smallest 
expenses of the institution. It had been the custom of 
Mr. Simpson, as cashier of the old bank of the United 
States, to bestow a great coat every succeeding Christ- 
mas, to each watchman of the bank, as a gratuity pecu- 
liar to the season — a sort of comfortable, appropriate to 
their vocation, that would aid in excluding the piercing 
blasts of wintry nights. This practice he continued, 
as he did all others, after its purchase by Mr. Girard. 
But upon his demise, Girard immediately ordered this 
extravagance to be discontinued, at the same time that 
he instituted a close scrutiny into their monthly wages ; 
but whether he reduced these I do not now recollect. 
In making these excisions of his expenses, he remarked, 
that " Mr. Simpson was too good to every body— he 
spoiled them all." 

On this occasion too, he likewise reduced the salary 
of the cashier 750 dollars $ that of the first teller from 
2000 to 81500; that of the second teller from 1500 
to Si 000 $ and that of the cashier's clerk from 750 
to §600. It had been customary, to allow the offi- 
cers of the bank pen-knives ; but this extravagance was 
discontinued, as too serious a subtraction from the pro- 
fits of the bank. Reductions of a similar character 
were carried into every department of the minor expen- 
ditures, at the same time that thousands were expended 
upon improving and beautifyiug the banking-house. 

A similar spirit governed him in all his contracts for 
building houses and ships $ and, indeed, whatever he 
undertook, in which the desire to be employed by him, 
or the fear of giving him offence, overcame the self- 
interest of those who submitted to his exaction of terms., 
and rigour of conditions. On some of these occasions, 
for who can always be both wise and frugal, the passion 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 73 

to save, defeated its purpose, and pence were saved in 
the beginning, which caused the sacrifice of pounds 
in the sequel. Still, the principle was laudable ; for he 
only aimed to establish a fair equivalent, which experi- 
ence of the world had convinced him, was not always 
that, which trade denominates the first offer — and which 
knavery abates, under the plea of an asking price, which 
is only intended to defraud the ignorant, the honest, and 
unsuspecting ; but which sagacious experience always 
suspects, and never fails to drive to the lowest minimum 
of profit. It is the necessity of self-defence, that first 
teaches the veteran trader " to drive a hard bargain. 53 

Some men are frugal in respect to others, and yet 
extravagent to themselves. This, however, was not the 
case with Stephen Girard. A sense of justice was al- 
ways paramount in his actions, and he never laid down 
a rule for others, which he was not willing to observe 
himself — with one exception — that he would never sell 
when the market was rising ; nor buy when it was falling, 
unless he saw a prospect of reaction ; yet this does not 
affect that general principle of integrity, which regu- 
lates our conduct towards our fellow-men. In this 
manner, he allowed himself no extravagance that he de- 
nied to others. In his personal apparel, he was a strict 
economist $ wearing one coat for five, six, or ten years ; 
and when on his farm, for days together, in order to save 
"wear and tear," working in his shirt-sleeves, lie was 
in the habit of boasting of one of his threadbare great- 
coats — that he had worn it fourteen years. His hats 
and boots, were in general, of the same antiquity; 
but his clothes being made after the old French fashion, 
gave them an air of greater economy than they sometimes 
really possessed. For twenty years, during which, I 
saw him almost every day, I never remember to have 
observed a new article of personal apparel but once ; 
though it might sometimes be difficult to detect the 



74 BIOGRAPHY Of 

new from the old — for his cloth was not always of the 
finest texture. He had probably heard of the ancient 
maxim, that 6C the birds of the richest notes, are never 
arrayed in gaudy plumes." 

It is by such methods of saving, and such arts of 
looking poor, that most men grow rich. Lavish expen- 
ditures at all points soon lead to ruin. He who grati- 
fies himself in one passion, must restrict his fancy on 
other matters. There were some points on which Mr. 
Girard spent freely. What he saved in his clothes, he 
expended in the embellishment of the city; but personal 
vanity he had none to gratify \ it therefore became a 
matter of pride with him to preserve an exterior ap- 
pearance, which if it did not exactly express poverty, 
certainly wore an aspect far removed from the idea of 
riches. Whether this was the result of long habit, as 
an old mariner, however, or proceeded from an eccen- 
tric humour, in order that his personal appearance might 
be the more remarked, as exhibiting a greater contrast 
to his opulent condition, may be left for the imagina- 
tion of the reader to determine, without much dispa- 
ragement to the hero of millions. 

His parsimony and attention to money in its smallest 
fractions, did not, however, so far master him, as to lead 
him to stint the gratification of his palate, or limit 
his appetite to the extreme of ascetic abstinence $ and 
although he never wholly lost sight of the — to him — su- 
blime code of economy — yet it did not restrain him, at 
times, from the proper enjoyments of the table. When 
in vigorous health, up to the year 1824, he fed well; 
and perhaps no man enjoyed life more than Stephen 
Girard — and he truly did enjoy it in the best sense, for 
he ate what pleased his palate, and drank what he was 
most fond of, good claret. But temperance marked him 
for her own in respect both to alcohol and wine $ of 
which he partook, very sparingly of the latter, and sel- 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 75 

dom, or never, of the former. Physical temperance was, 
indeed, indispensable to Girard, to enable him to suc- 
ceed in the prosecution of those various schemes of 
endless enterprise, which marked his eventful life, and 
we are only left to regret that his temper and his pas- 
sions did not, at all times, exhibit that moral temperance, 
which would have completed the character of this sin- 
gular philosopher, had he permitted the calm principles 
of the sage always to regulate his conduct. But what 
man is perfect ? And who could have resisted so much 
as he did, the powerful temptation of wealth, to en- 
chant him into the gratifications of his passions ? We 
have rather cause to admire him, that he displayed so 
little of the weakness of our nature, and aberrated to so 
narrow a degree, when he had it in his power to make 
" caprice wanton without control," and indulge passion 
to its utmost bounds of enjoyment. 

That he never permitted his appetites to interfere with 
his business, is shown by the following anecdote, which 
I had from one of our most respectable merchants. This 
gentleman had purchased of him a large lot of brandies $ 
and after waiting some time for Mr. Girard to send for 
his notes, and not residing far off, he carried his receipt 
book, and waited upon Mr. Girard to pay him. As 
he entered his compting-room, he found Girard at his 
dinner, making his repast upon cheese and biscuit, from 
a small pine table, the draw of which, as the gentleman 
entered, he opened, and with a broad sweep of bis 
right hand, brushed in the fragments of his simple meal $ 
thus consulting not only the economy of money, but the 
economy of time. 

This care of small expenses, permitted to grow into 
too confirmed a habit, is very apt to exhibit us in an 
unfeeling or unamiable light, when the real bias of the 
heart is benevolent, and the feelings remain untouched 
by the very action that seems to emanate from them. 



76 BIOGRAPHY OF 

An instance of this has been mentioned, in which this 
habit seemed to intrude into his fraternal feelings, as if 
manifesting the love of money over the love of kindred. 
It cannot be doubted, that Girard entertained a perfect 
horror of parting with the smallest portion of his pro- 
perty, without receiving at all times a proper equivalent. 
An anecdote is related of his brother, Captain John Gi- 
rard, when he was fitting out a schooner for Cape Fran- 
gois, who having occasion for some glass for his cabin 
windows, and observing the fragments of several boxes 
of that article in his brother Stephen's store — presuming 
on the privileges of consanguinity, and knowing it to 
be of little or no value to the owner, was about to ap- 
propriate a few of the fragments to that purpose — when 
Stephen suddenly interfered, and with no little ebullition 
of anger and resentment, loudly deprecated the intend- 
ed abstraction of his mutilated property, as if ruin would 
have ensued from the loss of a few broken panes of glass, 
which were of no use to the owner. 

On such occasions, the temper and passions of Stephen 
Girard seldom confined themselves to the limits of pro- 
priety of language, or decorum of behaviour ; and he 
accordingly vented a torrent of ribaldry and invective 
upon his brother John, by no means calculated to 
strengthen the ties of fraternal attachment. For the 
temperament of John was of a milder and more concili- 
ating character j so that he always retreated from the 
arbitrary, boisterous, and overbearing deportment of his 
brother. 

I have deemed it necessary to record these trifling in- 
cidents, in order to show out those minor features of a 
great character, which without them, could not be ade- 
quately conceived ; and which, if they sometimes appear 
as blemishes, still they are small ones, and can no more 
disparage the whole character of the man, than a mole 
on the cheek can impair the beauty of a woman 5 or a 



STEPHEN GIRARfl. 77 

scar deface the comely countenance of a soldier* They 
are a part of nature, or belong to character, and must 
be painted ; but when we gaze upon them, we are not 
to consider such blemishes as forming the man, and con- 
found these trivial features with the general character. 
If any mitigating circumstances, however, were wanting 
to soften the effect of such habits upon the heart of their 
possessor, it is amply afforded in the reflection, that 
without them, the wealth he has left us never could have 
been acquired, or if acquired, not bequeathed to us. 

It must be confessed, however, that trifles may be 
gained or saved, at too great a sacrifice of principle, 
and at too great a cost of the sympathies of our nature, 
and that regard to decorum, which constitutes one of 
the most amiable and endearing features of the human 
character. It is not crime, only, that is culpable and 
abhorrent to our best feelings. A man, without perpe- 
trating penal guilt, may be more obnoxious to detesta- 
tion, than he who stops the traveller on the high-way, or 
forces an entrance to your domicile, to rob it of your 
plate and valuables, or commit the most revolting spe- 
cies of depredation. 

The greater, always absorb the minor passions. Gi- 
rard was ambitious of riches, and every other conside- 
ration faded away before his eyes into indistinct air. 

Having nothing of the amiable feelings in his compo- 
sition, he never consulted the feelings of others, or reck- 
ed how much he shocked their sensibilities, so that he 
gained their money, or saved himself from an expendi- 
ture. 

Every step he made in life, was a sort of pitched bat- 
tle, to conquer property ; and so that he gained the vic- 
tory, he cared very little who were killed or wounded. 

Accustomed only to act up to the conditions of a con- 
tract, a bargain, or a bill of sale, he never paid the slight- 
est attention to any circumstances not stipulated ex- 



78 BIOGRAPHY OF 

pressly in the agreement. He was always faithful to his 
bond, but he would insist upon all its conditions ; and dis- 
regard every principle which it did not verbally sum up, 
as a declaration, or detail as one of the terms. 

Though his love of gain is known to have been so in- 
ordinate, it is believed that it seldom, or never induced 
him to confound, in any gross manner, the limits of jus- 
tice and fair dealing, in his multifarious transactions 
with the trading and commercial world. Numberless 
anecdotes might be detailed of this dangerous ascenden- 
cy of the thirst of gain, and the unappeasable covetous- 
ness of money $ and it is highly to the credit of Girard 
that so little can be said of him, which shows an occa- 
sional bias to dereliction ; and that so much can be at- 
tested to, which demonstrates his integrity, and exhibits 
the inflexibility of his principles. He who values thou- 
sands only as they may lead him to the acquisition of 
millions, and to whom even millions only appear valua- 
ble as they promise the attainment of more, may be 
compared to Byron's Manfred, wrestling with an evil 
spirit that is incessantly goading him to some unholy 
deed, and in the midst of whose incantations he takes 
delight to dwell; climbing to ice-clad summits in quest 
of the excitement, and often losing his foot-hold in the 
whirl and mist of the mountains of wealth that sur- 
round him. To play for empire, is truly said to be a 
dangerous game; but he who plays for millions risks 
m0 re — for he perils his integrity. It is therefore to be 
recorded to the enduring credit of Stephen Girard, that 
his reputation for just dealing is as little impeached, 
and that in the least material points, as that of men, who 
have never experienced one hundredth part of his temp- 
tations i whether we consider the force of his passions, 
naturally violent, the extent and duration of his business, 
without a parallel, or the frequency and tempting na- 
ture of his opportunities, perhaps never before equalled. 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 79 

It was the practice of Girard, when he had made a 
sale of merchandize, always to attend personally to the 
delivery of the goods, in order to be assured that no 
over weight was given, or too liberal a measure granted, 
and in some cases to see what advantages might be se- 
cured in the moment of consummating the bargain. 
There was no stage in the process of the exchange of 
equivalents, that he thought might not present oppor- 
tunities of profit. 

On one of these occasions, a merchant who had pur- 
chased a large quantity of hemp of Girard, sent a black 
man to superintend the weighing and loading of it 
Girard was busy himself in putting it upon the scales, 
but a great part of it being damaged, the negro man 
watched him closely, and whenever Girard threw on a 
bad bundle, the negro would carefully throw it off. But 
this, Girard of course, would not submit to, and would 
proceed to replace it, whilst the negro, in his turn, would 
as quickly fling it off; until losing his patience, he com- 
menced cursing the negro, and declared he should not 
touch the hemp, at the risk of chastisement. But Sam- 
bo, nothing intimidated by the threats of the rich French 
merchant, continued to look after his master's interest, 
and telling Girard that if he ventured to touch him, he 
would knock his other eye out ; Girard became pacified, 
and seeing the determined purpose of the man not to 
suffer his employer to be wronged, he became reconciled 
to the negro, saying — u PVell, I believe you be one very 
honest fellow, but you no be one great judge of de. hemp." 

On another occasion of the same kind, the purchaser 
of his hemp being less inflexible; or owing to some pe- 
culiar circumstances existing between the parties, the 
damaged hemp was taken by a ship-chandler, Girard in- 
sisting that he would give no other; and very little, or 
none of the article being in the market, the buyer was 

H 



80 BIOGRAPHY OF 

obliged to submit to his eccentric humour, and take it 
as he gave it, or take none. 

It happened, however, that this ship-chandler manu- 
factured all Mr. Girard's cordage, and in order to mete 
out to him measure for measure, he ordered the damaged 
hemp to be selected and made up for Mr. Girard. This 
was done $ and the retribution no doubt proved a more 
serious loss, than the profit on the bad hemp amount- 
ed to. 

Such were some of those unamiable habits, which the 
close pursuit of trade will engraft occasionally upon the 
greatest minds $ and which, though they obscure for a 
time the full radiance of character, wear away with the 
enlargement of fortune, and totally disappear as more 
extensive operations engross the latent energies and 
comprehensive views of the mind. These incidents 
occurred before he had risen to the majesty of millions ; 
whilst yet plodding in the small profits of pounds, shil- 
lings and pence ; and an utter stranger to the magnifi- 
cent gains that speculations in millions enabled him 
afterwards to realize, without any of the trouble attend- 
ing weight or measure. 

It was this restless desire after gain, which sometimes 
carried to excess, defeated its own purpose, and urged 
him to a rigour in exacting the condition of contracts 
from others, which was not at all times favourable to the 
maxim of " doing unto others as you would have others 
do unto you." On one occasion, when building a large 
ship, Girard, whose active mind seldom permitted him 
to hug his pillow till the dawn, had arrived at the ship- 
yard before any of the workmen and carpenters. It 
was just after day-break ; and not a living thing could 
be seen stirring but this anxious and indefatigable man. 
Girard waited with the utmost impatience, as much so 
as ever anxious lover panted to behold his mistress at 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 81 

the appointed hour. At length, just as the sun peered 
his golden head above the horizon, the ship-carpenters 
appeared, shaking off the drowsy mantle of the night, 
and seizing their tools, were about to proceed to work; 
but Girard, enraged by their tardiness, broke out into 
the most virulent abuse of the men, and when he lost his 
temper, no man could abuse better — until, at last, the 
workmen, no longer able to bear the torrent of his in- 
vective, gathered up their tools and departed — declaring 
they never would work for a man who wanted to make 
them skives, and who treated them as negroes; adding, 
that they were free Americans, and would never drive an- 
other nail into his ship. They kept their word, Mr. 
Girard now relented — regretted his violence, and de- 
plored his unhappy temper. But his conciliation came 
too late — the men departed ; and he was left to draw 
from the consequences of his violence, a useful lesson 
for his future conduct. Nor did he permit experience 
of this kind to be lost upon him $ for he was wont to 
boast, during his latter years, that he was gaining mas- 
tery over his temper, and was not so passionate as for- 
merly $ a confession which shows, that he considered it 
a weakness which he ought to conquer, and that he 
exerted himself to vanquish it, as unworthy the charac- 
ter of a philosopher, or a man. A conquest, like this, 
was certainly highly meritorious ; for he succeeded in 
subduing his temper at a period of life, advanced age, 
when others increase in peevishness, and give way en- 
tirely to their ill humors. One reason of his superiori- 
ty in this particular, was no doubt to be found in the 
constant activity of his mind and body, up to the very 
hour of his death. 

Before he succeeded, however, in subduing this irasci- 
bility of temperament, it had betrayed him into many 
foibles, that a proper sense of his own dignity, would 
have caused him to refrain from ; and on one occasion, 



82 BIOGRAPHY OF 

it carried him so far, as to make him forgetful of that 
very liberty of conscience, upon the exercise and enjoy- 
ment of which, he so much prided himself. 

The incident was this — it was his practice to compel 
all who worked on his plantation, to attend to their la- 
bour, when so required by him, on the Sabbath-day^ 
which, by Mr* Girard, was held in no higher respect 
than any other day of the week. But it seems, one of 
his workmen being a pious and conscientious man, re- 
monstrated in mild terms upon what he ventured to term 
a sacrilegious request ; upon which the temper of Girard 
became highly excited, and venting a volley of execra- 
tions upon the poor labourer, he instantly discharged 
him from his employ. 

It would, however, be an endless task to follow Ste- 
phen Girard through all the ebullitions of his ungo- 
vernable temper. Yet it was generally rendered harm- 
less by being vented upon objects accustomed to its 
force, who felt it less, and treated it as an infirmity of 
nature, not a part of the proper man. Upon his faith- 
ful Roberjot, much of its violence was daily exhausted | 
but who bore it all with a patient shrug, in considera- 
tion of its flowing from so great a source. When 
angry, however, Girard was not very choice in his ex- 
pressions i and it must have required no small stock of 
philosophy and forbearance, to sometimes receive with- 
out resistance, the severe ebullition of his caustic cen- 
sure. 

It was but natural, however, that the consciousness 
of his great wealth, should sometimes induce him to 
presume on it, as affording him security for that viola- 
tion of good manners, that we have seen him display 
towards the ship-carpenters. It is, however, matter of 
surprise that this baneful influence did not operate upon 
his mind, to a. greater and more pernicious extent. 
Few men could lay their hands upon their hearts, and 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 83 

declare, that if as rich as Stephen Girard, they would 
presume less upon their money, to secure them impunity 
for occasional bursts of temper or of tyranny. Perhaps 
no man could be found, who if as wealthy as Stephen 
Girard, would be less proud, presumptuous, or assum- 
ing ; for, in reality, he had none of those qualities in 
their active, or offensive form. It is, therefore, so much 
to his credit, on this score alone, and independent of all 
other considerations, that he has bequeathed his im- 
mense property to the public for useful and noble objects 
of general concernment, and not to individuals, who could 
ill bear so great a burden of prosperity. Man was not 
made to enjoy with moderation, great power, excessive 
prosperity, or immense riches; and it must forever form a 
subject of unbounded eulogium on Stephen Girard, that 
he kept down the rising presumption of his heart from 
molesting his fellow men, and directed the current of 
his powerful thoughts into the channel of public useful- 
ness and benevolent improvements. That he must have 
sometimes felt this propensity to tyrannise over his 
fellow-creatures, it is both reasonable and just to sup- 
pose; and it may be owing to his own experience on this 
point, which assisted to dictate to his judgment, that 
admirable distribution of his fortune,* which his will 
expresses. 

I do not, however, believe, that upstart pride had any 
share in making him tyrannical and overbearing. If 
his disposition was arbitrary, it was so by nature. He 
required implicit submission more from the conscious- 
ness of superior understandings than the consideration 
of his superior wealth. 

Minds vigourously constituted, are always self-will- 
ed in proportion to their strength : — and without any 
intention of depriving others of their rights, became 
dogmatical and despotic from the mere dictates of rea- 
son; they see more of the relations of things than 

H 2 



84 BIOGRAPHY OF 

others : and judging more correctly, and with greater 
rapidity, they cannot brook the tameness of stupidity, 
or submit to the blunders of ignorance. 

This was, in a peculiar manner, the case with Girard. 
I have frequently seen him raving at his honest and faith- 
ful watchman, because he did not obey his horticultural 
orders with sufficient alacrity ; or conceive his meaning 
with that quickness and precision which could only be 
expected of a professional gardener. 

It was the same with his builders. No man better un- 
derstood how to construct his houses ; not only as to the 
plan, but in all their details ; and here too, the superiori- 
ty of his mind, caused him to appear absolute, and often 
to act with apparent tyranny. 

The habits of the old mariner too, had their share in 
inducing this disposition, or rather in confirming it. It 
is an old remark, that sea-captains are petty tyrants. 
The custom of absolute sway in their ships, begets a 
disposition by no means favourable to tolerance, libe- 
rality, or amenity of deportment. 

It may be mentioned among his saving and frugal 
habits, that he seldom, or never made presents of his 
choice fruits, or elegant flowers ; which would have been 
to violate his principle, of parting with value without 
an equivalent. For he never adopted the idea which so 
generally prevails, of there being an ingredient of com- 
mon property in fruits and flowers ; an idea which has 
probably been generated by their transitory nature, to- 
gether with the universal desire to possess them, which 
resides in every mind. Mr. Girard invariably caused 
them to be taken to market, and sold \ or, on some oc- 
casions, he would order a portion to be taken to his 
house for his own consumption. During the ljng in- 
timacy which subsisted between him and my father, 
for whom he ever felt a respect that restrained him 
within bounds, that he did not always observe towards 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 85 

others, I never heard of a single present of this descrip- 
tion. Yet he may sometimes have been liable to fits of 
generosity, and moments of kindness, when his heart 
relaxed from the rigour of gain, to the bounty of benefi- 
cence, and good nature prompted what friendship or 
civility could not induce. 

He was sometimes known to invite gentlemen to take 
a ride to his farm in Passyunk, during the fruit season $ 
when he would carefully conduct them to a spot of the 
strawberry-bed, from which all the finest fruit had been 
previously gathered, to send to market — when he would 
fling off his coat — leave the gentleman to his fruit — as 
Swift used to leave his company to their wine — over a 
solitary pint bottle, which he had nearly emptied him- 
self — and join his men in the common labour of the 
farm. On one of these occasions he happened to return 
to his visiter, and finding him in the midst of an un- 
touched virgin bed of his finest strawberries, his anger 
and astonishment were ill dissembled by the apparent 
good nature with which he rebuked him for the liberty 
he had taken — remarking, "I gave you permission only 
to eat from that bed," pointing with his finger to the 
exhausted spot. When conducting visiters or stran- 
gers through his grounds, he would not pluck even an 
apple to present to them, though his trees were bowed 
to the earth with the weight of the fruit : one reason of 
which might be, that as he went to his farm to loork, he 
desired no interruption $ and was studious to avoid the 
practice of all those little arts of pleasing and gratifica- 
tion, which protract the intended call of a minute, to the 
tedious visit of untold hours. But Girard knew how to 
shorten visits, he gave his guests nothing — he said 
nothing — and they departed. He was made for busi- 
ness ; what was pleasure to others was toil to him, and 
it would indeed be unjust and illiberal to censure him, 
for what we all do ourselves — consult the bent of our 



86 BIOGRAPHY OF 

inclinations. Labour was his pleasure, and who can 
boast a more laudable, or a more harmless one ? 

At the time he purchased his Banking House, with 
the dwelling of the Cashier attached on Chesnut street, 
he abstained from any interference with the premises, 
but after the death of Mr. Simpson he laid out and 
planted a garden in the rear part of the lot, which he 
cut off from the grounds of his cashier, and appropri- 
ated to himself, stocking it with choice grapes, filberts, 
peaches, quinces, figs, Sec. The care of this garden was 
allotted to the day watchman of the Bank $ who was 
severely enjoined to exercise the utmost vigilance in 
guarding and preserving the firuit from depredation. 
As the trees were young even at the time of his demise, 
Girard often counted the fruit, and made the watchman 
responsible for the number of the figs, quinces or peaches. 
And as the fruit began to ripen, the windfalls were 
very carefully gathered, and taken to his counting-house 
in the evening. I have seen this watchman with two 
quinces and a score of filberts, which he was to deliver 
on pain of losing his place. But suppose he had not 
enforced this rigid care of his fruit — how much of 
it would he ever have gathered ? There were no other 
means to preserve it, and why should he not adopt them ? 

We often censure in others, what we would be dis- 
posed to do ourselves if placed in the same situation : and 
when attention is concentrated upon a rich and eccen- 
tric old man, that so many envy, and so many from the 
force of prejudice dislike $ it is not easy to form an 
impartial judgment, even of his most trivial actions. 

It was a habit, founded on a principle, with Girard, 
to be careful of every thing he possessed. If he neglect- 
ed what appeared of small amount, he might in time 
come to neglect what was of serious magnitude. But 
we must estimate character upon the whole, not in its 
parts. A frugal and wise man must be frugal and wise 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 87 

in all things* He cannot be careful of great concerns, 
without likewise being careful of what may to some, ap- 
pear of small amount. 

The gardener too has a pride, as well as attachment 
to his children* of fruits and flowers, which causes him 
to appear a niggard, when he is only over fond of his 
offspring. Those who have experienced this feeling* 
know with what a jealous care we watch the trees, or 
the flowers we have planted, watered, pruned, and rear- 
ed ; how jealous we become of their favours to others, 
and how tenderly we guard them from the rude touch 
of a strange hand. 

The smallest means of adding to his fortune were 
never neglected, or overlooked by him. To him no- 
thing was a trifle, if a penny could be made by it. His 
breed of canary birds was among the most choice and 
extensive in the world ; and he was careful to sell them 
at the highest prices. Many singular anecdotes are re- 
lated of these birds, their eccentric owner, and the faith- 
ful Roberjot; the particulars of which I have too far 
forgotten, to relate. But the fondness of Girard for 
these birds was remarkable ; he had his favourites 
among them; and doubtless enjoyed many a happy 
moment amidst the music of their songs ; a sweet and 
singular solace from the cares of trade; and which seem- 
ed to indicate a native trait of tenderness lurking at the 
bottom of his heart. True, he sold them ; and they con- 
tributed to gratify his darling passion in that way; but 
it would be ungenerous to suppose, that he had no af- 
fection for those dulcet strains of melody, which com- 
manded so profitable a price in the market, where love 
and music compete for the supremacy. 

As the wealth of Mr. Girard began to expand to mil- 
lions, and attract public attention, he necessarily began 
to be an object of peculiar attention and solicitude to 
those public bodies, religious associations, and public 



88 BIOGRAPHY OF 

charities, whose schemes required the voluntary con- 
tributions of wealth, or whose funds had been exhausted 
upon laudable objects of benevolence. On these occa- 
sions he showed an indifference for thousands, which 
astonished those who had witnessed the extent of his 
toil and assiduity to acquire tens and hundreds $ a plain 
and conclusive demonstration, that it was not so much 
the love of money, as the desire to control its destination, 
which influenced him so powerfully in its accumulation. 

On these occasions, no man was more munificent than 
Stephen Girard, if approached in a becoming spirit, 
and a deportment not inclined to be dictatorial. He 
might be coaxed out of thousands and tens of thou- 
sands; but force, rudeness, intimidation, or any dis- 
position tending towards coercion, could not wring 
a cent from his purse. His own humour was the 
only prompter to his donation, and his own judg- 
ment, must be the only measure of his bounty. Placed 
on a different footing, he would bestow nothing 5 or, 
if in his power, cancel the favour he had previously 
conferred $ to give nothing, or to double the donation. 
His munificent liberality towards public institutions of 
a charitable and benevolent character, was frequently 
evinced during his life-time, by the most generous do- 
nations. Towards that great and noble establishment, 
the Pennsylvania Hospital, he was particularly liberal ; 
and attested to its exalted and extensive usefulness in 
the most sacred walk of humanity, by including it in 
his WILL. 

Among the patrons and friends of the hospital, none 
were so much distinguished for activity, zeal, and un- 
ceasing efforts to augment its funds and its usefulness, 
as that warm-hearted philanthropist, the late Samuel 
Coates, Esq., a member of the Society of Friends, alike 
remarkable for the intelligence of his mind, the simpli- 
city of his manners, and the goodness of his feelings. I 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 89 

remember his broad brim, when a boy, and I now recall 
to mind his venerable figure with a profound sentiment 
of sincere respect for his virtues, and unfeigned admi- 
ration for his benevolence. No man of his day was 
more universally esteemed and beloved. At a period 
when the hospital was greatly in want of funds, Mr. 
Coates undertook to solicit a donation from Stephen 
Girard. He was proceeding towards his compting- 
house for this purpose, when he met Mr. Girard in the 
street, and intimated to him the request of the managers 
of the hospital. Mr. Girard, after a patient hearing, 
desired Mr. Coates to call on him the subsequent morn- 
ing, and "if he (Mr. Coates,) found him on a right foot- 
ing, he would then do something for them. 39 

The following morning, Mr. Coates waited on Mr. 
Girard, and found him at breakfast. Mr. Girard in- 
vited him to partake of some, to which Mr. Coates im- 
mediately assented ; the repast being ended, Mr. Coates 
observed that, "now they would proceed to business." 
" Well, what have you come for, Samuel ?" inquired 
Mr. Girard. "Anything thee pleases, Stephen," re- 
plied Mr. Coates. 

Mr- Girard signed and presented a check for g2000 
to Mr. Coates ; which the latter put in his pocket, with- 
out casting a look at its amount.* 

" What, you no look at the check, I gave you ?" ex- 

* I have given the sums mentioned by the gentleman to whom I 
am indebted for this anecdote ; but it will be seen by a statement 
of facts, contained in another part of this work, that the thousands 
here enumerated, ought to be hundreds — as they were in reality. 
It may here be observed upon this subject of the extreme magnifi- 
cence of his donations, that they have in all cases been greatly 
exaggerated. In no instance would it have been an easy matter 
during the life-time of Stephen Girard, to have wrung from him the 
gift of thousands. Prodigality on such a scale, would even have 
led to an impairment of his fortune, great as it was. 



90 BIOGRAPHY OF 

claimed Mr. Girard. "No, beggars must not be 
choosers, Stephen," replied Mr. Coates. "Hand me 
back the check again, I gave you," demanded Mr. Gi- 
rard. " No, no, Stephen, ' a bird in the hand is worth 
two in the bush,' " responded Mr. Coates. 

4< By George !" exclaimed Girard, " you have caught 
me on the right footing' 9 

He then drew a check for 85000, and presented it to 
Mr. Coates, observing at the same time, <c Will you now 
look at it?" 

"Well, to please thee, Stephen, I will," replied Mr. 
Coates. " Now give me back the first check !" demanded 
Mr. Girard, which was instantly complied with, by Mr. 
Coates. 

This little incident is characteristic of both indivi- 
duals, and may be relied on as authentic. 

Few understood him, however, so well as Samuel 
Coates, and few profited so well by his bounty. When 
the Baptist church was building in Sansom street, 
Doctor Staughton waited upon him, in behalf of the 
congregation, to obtain some aid towards its erection. 
Girard received him as he did all others, on similar 
errands, with cold, but marked courtesy; and without 
hesitation, presented him with a check for five hundred 
dollars. Doctor Staughton received it with a low bow, 
expecting a donation of at least one thousand ; but when 
he perused it, he affected the greatest astonishment. 
"Only five hundred dollars, Mr. Girard! surely you will 
not give us less than a thousand dollars." "Let me 
see the check, Mr. Staughton," replied Girard — "per- 
haps I have made one mistake ;" upon which the Doctor 
returned him the check, when Girard, with the utmost 
sang froid, cancelled it into fragments — observing, 
" Well, Mr. Staughton, if you will not have what I give, 
I will give nothing." The Doctor left him, overcome 
with chagrin and mortification. 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 9 i 

But he would give to one sect no more than to another ; 
his principal object being on these occasions, to give 
his assistance towards the improvement of the city, not 
merely to multiply churches, or to diffuse religion ; 
for he never frequented the former, and had no partiali- 
ty for the latter. Not many years ago, the Episcopa- 
lian Methodists contemplating the erection of a meeting- 
house, Thomas Haskins, a practical merchant, and a 
near neighbour of Girard, waited upon him in company 
with a committee, to obtain a donation. Mr. Haskins 
was proceeding in a modest strain to urge their claim 
upon his liberality, when anticipating their wishes, and 
perhaps desirous of saving time, Girard suddenly inter- 
rupted him in his harangue, by saying — " Gentlemen, I 
approve of your motives, and as the erection of such 
a building will tend to improve that quarter of the city, 
I am willing to assist in the furtherance of your object ;" 
and immediately presented them with a check for Jive 
hundred dollars, by the aid of which, in conjunction with 
other subscriptions, a substantial, but plain Methodist 
church was erected. Whether this attempt was pre- 
mature, of erecting a meeting so far west as Tenth 
street, or whether the society failed to pay their debts, 
and the meeting-house was sold, I do not now recol- 
lect ; but the building was subsequently purchased by 
the Protestant Episcopalians, and altered into thegothic 
style, under the name of St. Stephen's Church. A com- 
mittee from the new congregation, of course, paid a visit 
to Girard, to obtain, as they expected, a magnificent 
subscription, calculating, that as he had given five hun- 
dred dollars towards erecting the humble Methodist 
chapel, he would augment his subscription in proportion 
to the increased grandeur of the design, and that a 
gothic cathedral would amplify his liberality according 
to the extended cost of their undertaking. Upon this 

I 



92 BIOGRAPHY OF 

theme, therefore, the committee dilated with much fer- 
vour, eloquence, and reason ; to all of which, Girard lis- 
tened in silence, with becoming gravity and respect, and 
immediately handed them a check. It was perused with 
attention, but what was their disappointment to disco- 
ver that it would command but the paltry sum of Jive 
hundred dollars. The committee looked upon each 
other with amazement ; and having consulted together, 
they came to the conclusion, that Mr. Girard had com- 
mitted some mistake, by omitting a cypher, and that he 
intended to fill it up for five thousand dollars. In order 
to soften the rebuke, they agreed to intimate their im- 
pressions to him in a jocular manner, which they 
did, reminding him that he had given the sum of five 
hundred dollars to the poor Methodists. With much 
politeness, they returned the check to Mr. Girard, so- 
liciting him to make it for five thousand. 6i Ah, gentle- 
men/' said Girard, "what you say? I have made one 
mistake ; let me see- — I believe not — but if you say so, 
I must correct it." Upon which, he instantly destroyed 
the check — observing, 6 <I will not contribute one cent 
Your society is wealthy— the Methodists are poor — but 
I make no distinction; yet I cannot please you." After 
a pause, he continued — " You remind me, gentlemen, 
of the rich man in the gospel. He would not be con- 
tent with the blessings which attended his agricultural 
toils, but was so covetous, that on a certain season, his 
crops were so abundant, that his granary would not con- 
tain them \ upon which he erected new buildings for 
that purpose, instead of distributing the surplus to the 
suffering poor. Profit by his fate, gentlemen — I have 
nothing to give for your magnificent church." Many 
apologies were now offered by the disappointed appli- 
cants ; but repentance came too late — Girard was never 
moved by words, to do, or undo any thing; he never 



. 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 93 

received an impulse from others, and seldom checked 
or change'd his determinations from the force of any 
extraneous influence. 

This anecdote illustrates a trait in the character of 
Girard, which is one of the most remarkable, of his sin- 
gular and eccentric mind : inflexible obstinacy. There 
are few men but will listen to the reasonings, opin- 
ions, and arguments of their companions, friends, and 
fellow-citizens ; and still fewer, who will not often 
change their determinations, when urgently pressed, or 
earnestly solicited. The very reverse was the nature of 
Girard's temper. The more you argued, the more you 
solicited, the more firmly opposed to you did he be- 
come. Even if at first inclined to act as any one desired, 
if he saw you confident of his compliance, he would 
revoke his judgment, reckless of all reason or feeling, 
in the case. No extremity of human suffering— no case 
of human misery to be averted by his acquiescence could 
move him — he stood unalterably obstinate, abiding by 
his own purpose, and bidding secret defiance to all the 
powers of earth to move him. 

This feature of his character was so well known, that 
after a time, very few would venture to approach him, 
in the capacity of solicitors for public objects or pri- 
vate charities. A benevolent old widow lady, however, 
once determined to brave this repulsive feature of the 
rich man, on an occasion of extreme distress in a 
poor family, after having exhausted, as she thought, 
the purses of her immediate friends, in the succour of 
the needy, for it was her vocation to go about seeking 
out the secluded victims of poverty and sickness, and 
pouring oil into their wounds, and shedding balm upon 
their restless and weary pillows. 

The case that moved her to visit Girard, however, 
was an extreme one 5 in which complicated family mise- 



94 BIOGRAPHY OF 

ry would have wrung the hardest heart, and moved the 
most unfeeling, to pity and succour a famishing wife, 
surrounded by a starving family, and at the very mo- 
ment of giving birth to another unhappy heir to her 
penury and wo. 

The old lady hastened to Girard's dwelling, nothing 
daunted by the predictions that she would fail in her ob- 
ject. He was at home, but engaged. She sat down pa- 
tiently, and after waiting two hours, was told she could see 
Mr. Girard. She was shown accordingly, into his back 
parlour. She began to relate the scene of human misery 
that had brought her to him, detailing every particular 
with a minuteness calculated to excite the deepest sim- 
pathy for the sufferers. Mr. Girard listened with atten- 
tion, and as she proceeded in her narrative, commenced 
walking to and fro, as if affected by the misfortunes 
she had so forcibly depicted ; and after some time, when 
a pause had ensued to her recital, he stopped where 
was sitting, the old lady expecting to see, if not the tear, 
to hear at least the sigh of sympathy — but impatience 
at being thus detained from business, not the throb of 
sympathy, had caused his agitation — for he said to her, 
"If you will promise never to trouble me again, I will give 
you something — will you promise me never to come again ?" 
« Why, Mr. Girard, I will, if you say so." — "Well, then, 
never come again, and I will give you thirty dollars;" 
for which amount he immediately signed and handed 
her a check | no doubt inwardly congratulating him- 
self, that he could bye off the old lady at so cheap a rate. 

This excellent and benevolent woman kept her word 
Avith religious fidelity. She never afterwards solicited 
the charity of Stephen Girard. 

In the history of a sea voyage, whether to the north 
of Europe, China, Calcutta, or Batavia, there is very 
little that can give us an insight into character, or eluci- 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 95 

date principles for the benefit of mankind \ hence the 
life of a mere schemer of voyages, or a successful mer- 
chant, would prove but a barren theme for the labours of 
the biographer. We have, therefore, passed over the 
years in which he constructed his several ships, the desti- 
nation of their voyages, the invoices of their cargoes, 
and the result of his speculations in coffee, gin, and hemp, 
as subjects more appropriate to the task of the as- 
signee or the executor, than to him who should under- 
take to trace character, sift motives, and analyze ac- 
tions. 

It may be observed, however, that his ships Voltaire, 
Rousseau, Helvetius, &c. were constructed of the best ma- 
terials, and on the finest models ; were substantial, hand- 
some, and well found, an honour to American marine 
architecture, and creditable to the port of Philadelphia 
and their owner. Few of them ever foundered at sea; 
and so conscious was Girard of their superiority over 
common ships, that he would never pay more than one or 
two per cent* below the common rate of insurance. If 
his office would not take the risks at what he offered, he 
became his own underwriter ; but they were seldom, or 
never refused : and not generally offered by him. 

When one of the younger Barings was in this city a 
few years since, he thought he would cause Girard an 
agreeable surprise, by riding down to his place in Pas- 
syunk, to convey the pleasing intelligence of the arrival 
of his ship Voltaire, from India. Down he posted to his 
plantation, as fast as a spirited horse could carry him. 
"Where is Mr. Girard?" exclaimed Mr. Baring. In 
the hay loft, sir. u Teli him Mr. Baring wishes to see 
him immediately, on particular business." In an instant 
Girard stood before him, covered with sweat and hay, 
with his sleeves rolled up to his shoulders. " Well, 
Mr. Baring, what is the matter?" C6 I have come to tell 
you good news, Mr. Girard— Your ship the Voltaire 

12 



96 BIOGRAPHY OF 

has arrived safe at Philadelphia." "Oh ! Mr. Baring, is 
that all $ my ships always come safe. I knew the Voltaire 
would arrive safe. I am very busy with my hay, Mr* 
Baring," and up he mounted again to his darling hay-loft* 

Of far different tendency, however, as well as greater 
importance and interest, was the establishment of his 
bank. The departure of a ship would hardly form an 
era in the life of the most ordinary merchant in society ; 
but the institution of a bank* destined to control mil- 
lions, and to rescue a sinking country from impending 
ruin $ whose operations were to become blended with the 
currency of the nation, and connected with the finances 
of the government, assume a character and a magni- 
tude, which concentrate public attention to the genius 
of the man who could thus raise by his single exertions, 
from the smallest beginnings, a monied structure that 
was to equal and cope with the banking capital of the 
nation. 

Accident, which decides most of the schemes of short- 
sighted man; and frustrated speculation, seeking to add 
to its hoards by new investments, led to the establish- 
ment of Girard's Bank. It was not, as many have sup- 
posed, projected in the calm hours of sagacious calcula- 
tion, or devised by its proprietor, with that premedita- 
tion and foiesight, to which popular credulity, or blind 
admiration, have so often ascribed it. No man is so 
perfect, or so wise, so penetrating, or so sagacious, as to 
refer all his actions to judgment or invention. Our best 
schemes are often the chance children of the hour ; and 
the most fortunate strokes of speculation, are more fre- 
quently suggested by some sudden disappointment, or 
unforeseen disaster, than by foresight and wisdom. 
Such at least was the occasion of his establishing his 
bank, by which he has been chiefly known, and through 
which he was most extensively useful to the public. 

The origin of his bank was a speculation in the stock 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 97 

of the old Bank of the United States, immediately prior 
to the expiration and non-renewal of its charter. The 
agitation of the public mind, caused by the virulent op- 
position of a bigotted party, having little or no princi- 
ple, and still less character and moral influence, to sus- 
tain its Jacobinical assaults against that institution, was 
not confined to the United States. The breach of pub- 
lic faith, involved in the menaced demolition of this in- 
valuable institution, had shocked even the European 
public, and as might naturally be expected, a general 
panic seized upon the minds of the English stockhold- 
ers, who accordingly, became eager to sell out, before 
the reality of its destruction should reduce them to the 
dividends of their par capital. The same shock, how- 
ever, was not experienced to so great a degree in this 
country $ for danger always seems diminished when 
within the reach of investigation, and its actual extent 
can be correctly ascertained by observation and inspec- 
tion. In this country, although the alarm was great, 
yet there existed every reason to believe that the charter 
would be renewed. The general expression of public 
opinion among the people, the decided indication of sen- 
timent among the members of Congress, and the unequi- 
vocal recommendation of the head of the Treasury De- 
partment, all gave reason to believe, that the charter of 
an institution founded by George Washington, and 
which experience had demonstrated to be not less ex- 
tensively useful to the commerce and currency of the 
country, than indispensable to the safe and expeditious 
operations of government, would be renewed without 
hesitation, if not without serious opposition. The press 
teemed with pamphlets deprecating its dissolution, and 
anticipating the ruin which would follow its extinction, 
as well to individuals as to the country, and which time 
but too sadly realized. Doctor Bollman delineated with 
the graphic force of a scientific pen, the endless disas- 



9B BIOGRAPHY 0£ 

ters that would attend the deprivation of its charter | 
and Matthew Carey, Esq. always to be found active 
where he can be useful, exhibited in colours sufficiently 
appalling, but far inferior to the reality, the dreadful 
effects of this infatuated design, to prostrate the fiscal 
power, and destroy at the very roots, the credit of the 
country. How far the reality of evil exceeded what 
were then esteemed extravagant predictions, is now 
too well known to be described. Private fortunes, and 
national credit, sunk into one common gulf $ from which 
both were subsequently rescued by the capital, integrity, 
and genius of Stephen Girard, co-operating with go- 
vernment, and aided by the present Bank of the United 
States. 

Although among the first to perceive the virulent op- 
position of his party to the bank charter, he was the last 
to think that Congress would be so infatuated as to de- 
stroy it. A close and an acute observer of men and 
things, not often mistaken in his views, nor disappointed 
in his calculations, he had in common with every other in- 
telligent and patriotic member of the community, deeply 
imbibed the conviction, that its charter would be re- 
newed ; and the result, the question, being lost by one 
vote only, and that the casting vote of the Vice-President, 
George Clinton, attested and confirmed the soundness 
of his judgment. But it was a remarkable trait of Gi- 
rard's character, and has often caused him to be compar- 
ed to Napoleon in this respect, that however he might 
confide in his own views and deductions, he never un- 
dertook any great enterprise without hearing the advice 
of those best qualified to give a sound opinion ; although 
he never permitted his object to be known to those from 
whom he obtained information $ and his sagacity and 
experience led him to select those for advisers who 
could give him the most correct views. On this occa- 
sion, he consulted the cashier of the Bank of the United 



! 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 99 

States, George Simpson, as to the prospect of the re- 
newal of the charter, whose opinion concurring with his 
own, that it would undoubtedly be renewed — he imme- 
diately, in 1810, transmitted instructions to the Messrs. 
Barings, Brothers 8c Co. of London, to invest his funds 
in shares of the Bank of the United States. At that 
time, however, his orders were not carried into effect ; 
nor was it until 1811, when the shares had fallen much 
lower, that the purchase was made by the house of 
Barings, through the personal exertions of his special 
agent to England, Charles N. Bancker, Esq. of this city, 
when stock was purchased to an amount exceeding half 
a million of dollars. 

The good fortune of Girard on this occasion, was 
certainly more instrumental in saving him from a loss 
which must have been pregnant with ruin to his estate, 
than his sagacity, foresight, or judgment. The state of 
the English currency at that period : the critical situa- 
tion of the Bank of England, and the pivot upon which 
the solvency of the house of Baring, Brothers fy Co. 
continued to vibrate from day to day, bending to every 
blast which shook the credit of the kingdom — all con- 
spired to place the immense property of Girard at the 
mercy of the fluctuating stock market at London. Had 
the house of Barings failed, Girard never could have 
established his bank ; and how near they came to an 
act of bankruptcy is shewn by the fact, that for several 
years the house of Barings was unable to remit his funds, 
according to his instructions to be invested in American 
stocks — the funded debt, and the Bank of the United 
States. It was their non-compliance with this order, 
which caused him to despatch as specialagents to London, 
Charles N. Bancker and Joseph Curwen, Esquires, of 
this city. On the 3 1 st December 1 809, the house of Bar- 
ings was indebted to him in <£ 102, 642 6s. Id. sterling. 
In 1811, they were indebted to him in near two hundred 



100 BIOGRAPHY OF 

thousand pounds sterling. Suppose at this crisis, they 
had stopped payment. A million of dollars, it is true, 
would not have broke Stephen Girard, for he owed no 
man a cent ; but it would have prevented the establish- 
ment of his bank, and might have ended in consequences 
so fatal to his mind, as to have suddenly arrested his ca- 
reer of usefulness, enterprise, and wealth. 

Fortunately, however, by the arrangements he adopted, 
he succeeded in extricating his immense funds from 
their hands, partly by investments in British goods, and 
partly by the purchase of public stock, and Bank Unit- 
ed States shares, for which he paid four hundred and 
twenty dollars per share, or five per cent, advance $ and 
that bank finally divided, upon its settlement to this 
time, eight and a half per cent, beyond the par value, or 
original subscription. 

It will appear more fully, however, from the statement 
which he rendered to Congress in the case of the ship 
Good Friends, that he had been concentrating his funds 
at the point of London, from the year 1807 ; at which 
period, it is highly probable, he even then looked for- 
ward to this speculation, as one by which a large profit 
could be realized. 

It was fortunate, however, for Mr. Girard, that his 
first instructions to Barings — owing to the embarrass- 
ments of that house, were not complied with ; although 
we cannot help again pausing to reflect, upon the im- 
mense fortune of this opulent man being at one time con- 
tingent upon the precarious solvency of that house, in 
one of the most critical and perilous moments of the 
continental war in Europe ; and which contingency and 
peril of his funds, had induced him to commission Mr. 
Bancker, as his special agent, to superintend in person, 
the compliance with his instructions by that house. No 
marvel, that Mr. Girard became alarmed, when the ster- 
ling paper currency of England had depreciated to sq 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 101 

low an ebb; when even the Barings quivered upon the 
verge of bankruptcy, and rumours of war thickened 
upon him from every quarter. 

Connected with this subject, the following explanato- 
ry statement of the condition of his funds in Europe, at 
various periods preceding his purchase of stock — and 
which accompanied his memorial to Congress soliciting 
that his ship " Good Friends" might be admitted to an 
entry at this port, she being then at Amelia Island, under 
the Non- Importation Act — furnishes so full an account of 
all his commercial transactions of that eventful period, 
that I shall here transcribe it at length $ as being a docu- 
ment every way interesting, as well for the information 
it contains, as from being the product of his pen, and of 
course illustrating the lucid and perspicuous method of 
his composition. 

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT 

To accompany the Memorial of Stephen Girard, dated the 9th day 
of March, 1812, and addressed to the Senate and House of Re- 
presentatives of the United States of America. 

These several years past I have been in the habit to 
ship, on my account, cargoes consisting of produce of 
the United States, and other articles of India, West In- 
dies, 8cc. to the continent of Europe. Those shipments 
have been disposed of at their respective destinations by 
the consignees, and in many instances, the greatest part 
of their proceeds were invested in Spanish milled dol- 
lars, &c. and shipped on board of my ships or vessels 
for the Isles of France, Bourbon, Java, Madras, Calcut- 
ta, and Canton, and back to this port; the residue of the 
neat proceeds of the original cargoes was remitted, from 
time to time, to my London friends, until July, 1807, 
when the increasing difficulties compelled me to 
order my ships back direct from said continent of 



102 BIOGRAPHY OF 

Europe, to this port, and to request my consignees to 
remit my funds to Messrs. Baring, Brothers and Co. 
"merchants of London, subject to my order, as it appears 
by the following statement, viz : 

On the 31st December, 1808, balance in my favour in 
the hands of the London house, £33,681 17s. sterling. 

During the year 1809, £131,003 5 9d. sterling, were 
remitted from Amsterdam, &x. to the London house, 
and my bills, &c. on said house, during that year, 
amounted to £62,042 16 8rf. 

On the 31st December, 1809, balance in my favour 
£102,642 6 Id. 

In the year 1810, remittances from the continent, 
amounting to £59,500 1 lid sterling, were made on my 
account, and the amount of my bills, Sic. during that 
year £45,440 15 7d. 

Balance in my favour, on the 31st December, 1810, 
£ 116,701 12 Bd sterling. 

The remittances made on my account in the year 
1811, by my consignees on the continent of Europe, to 
Messrs. Baring, Brothers and Co. amounted to £77,794 
1 4d. 

The lowness of exchange on England with the in- 
creasing danger and difficulties which our commerce 
experienced in Europe, together with the apparent 
gradual depreciation of British sterling bank notes, and 
the rumours of war between this country and some 
of the belligerent powers, rendered me very uneasy, 
particularly as I had not received those remittances 
which I had requested my London friends to make me 
in American stock and in United States' Bank shares. 
After meditating on those unfortunate prospects, in 
July last, I decided to liquidate the unsettled business 
which I had on the continent of Europe, and to draw 
from there, and from England, all the funds which I 
had in those countries $ for that purpose I appointed two 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 103 

confidential agents 5 one is Mr. Charles N. Bancker, 
a competent judge of dry goods, whom I furnished with 
a letter of credit on Messrs. Baring, Brothers and Co. 
of London, for fifty thousand pounds sterling, to be in- 
vested in British manufactures, to be shipped on my 
account, on board of my ship Good Friends; the other 
agent was Mr. Joseph Curwen, a merchant of this city, 
whom I vested with my general power of attorney to 
settle all my European business, and to remit me my 
funds as fast as practicable | that gentleman was also 
authorised to furnish Mr. Charles N. Bancker with an 
additional sum of ten thousand pounds sterling, to be 
also invested in British manufactures, if he should 
judge advisable. 

Mr. Charles N. Bancker went from New York early 
in August, 1811, to England, where he attended the busi- 
ness allotted to him. Mr. Joseph Curwen sailed from 
the river Delaware on or about the first August last, in 
my ship Good Friends, Robert Thompson, master, for 
Lisbon ; there attended to the sales of that ship's cargo, 
consisting of flour ; went to Cadiz on business of his own, 
and from there proceeded to London, where he arrived 
in October last, superintended my interest and invested 
funds on my account in American 6 per cent, stock, at 12 
per cent, above par, and United States' Bank shares, at 
about £94 10s per share, to the amount of £153,856 
9 7c? sterling, including £66,943 19 lei sterling t amount 
of Britsh manufactures selected, purchased, and shipped 
on my account, by Mr. Charles N. Bancker, 8cc. on board 
of the ship Good Friends, Robert Thompson, master. 

On or about the 20th November last Mr. Joseph 
Curwen went from England over to the continent of 
Europe, for the purpose of settling my concerns at 
Hamburg, Riga, and Sweden. 

Mr. Charles N. Bancker sailed from Portsmouth, 
England, passenger on board of the ship Good Friends, 

K 






iC ^ BIOGRAPHY OF 

on the 4th January last : at his departure from that coun- 
try there was still a balance in my favour of ^40,639 4 2d 
sterling, in the hands of Messrs. Baring, Brothers and 
Company. 

The funds which I have had, and still have in England, 
result, altogether, out of the neat proceeds of the ship- 
ments on my account, which I have consigned to my 
agents on the continent of Europe, who, after having 
sold my goods, have remitted their proceeds to Messrs. 
Baring, Brothers and Co. 

The foregoing statement of the yearly balance due me 
by Messrs. Baring, Brothers 8c Co. of London, ever since 
the 31st December, 1808, may, at all times, be proved 
by my books; also, by the accounts current, which I have 
received from that house, their correspondence with me, 
and by their several accounts current, and letters re- 
ceived from my agents and consignees, of my shipments 
to said continent of Europe. 

The ship Good Friends, Robert Thompson, master, 
with a cargo of British manufactures, amounting to 
cg66,943 19 Id sterling, including three anchors, sheath- 
ing copper, copper nails, bunting, and other articles 
for the use of my ships, was cleared out in London, 
for Amelia Island, Rio Janeiro, and Philadelphia ; sailed 
from England on the 4th January last, and arrived at 
Amelia Island on the 9th ult. Captain Robert Thomp- 
son having been compelled to give a bond for the land- 
ing of the copper and anchors in the port of the United 
States, is, as t am informed, the cause which has induced 
the collector of the Brtish custom, to insert Philadelphia 
in the clearance of said ship. 

My ship Good Friends and cargo, at Amelia Island, 
being subject to loss by tempest, fire, capture, Sec. I am 
anxious to secure that valuable property in a place of 
safety, by being permitted to order said ship with her 
cargo round to this port, here to enter said cargo for 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 1C5 

exportation, and to have the same landed and stored 
under the care of the custom house, except the three 
anchors, the sheathing copper and copper nails, a small 
bale of bunting, four night glasses, with several charts, 
amounting to ^1563 18 shillings sterling, which being 
intended for the use of my ships, part of them are now 
wanted for a new ship which I am fitting out." 

This statement will exhibit more of the mercantile 
operations and commercial genius of Stephen Girard, 
than volumes of dissertation could supply. 

A glance at this interesting document, will show us 
at once, the strength and the weakness of Stephen Gi- 
rard. It shows us his strength in that vast reach of 
commercial enterprise, which could scatter his wealth 
over the whole face of Europe, besides India, for the 
purposes of commercial profit : and when he saw dan- 
ger approaching, with what facility and foresight he 
concentrated his funds at the point of London, for the 
purpose of having them remitted here in the most 
portable and profitable shape. Viewing him as a mere 
merchant, what a wonderful man do we here behold ! 
Wonderful, not only in the extent and value of his ope- 
rations, but in the intellectual faculties and power, 
which their proper management necessarily brought 
into exercise; and although this ponderous commercial 
machinery did not require the same genius that should 
be brought to the composition of an epic poem, or a 
tragedy — yet, it certainly demanded a general vigour of 
genius not less powerful, creative, and inventive. 

On the other hand, is there not a weakness discernable 
in his trusting such immense funds to one house, 
although that house was the firm of Barings, and sup- 
posed to be identified with the credit and stability of the 
British government ? True, he retrieved and corrected 
his error, when he discovered that they failed to comply 
with his instructions to remit; but at that time, if dan- 



106 BIOGRAPHY OF 

ger existed, it was too late to correct it 5 for an agent in 
London would have been useless, had the house of 
Barings failed before his arrival The moment of non- 
compliance with his orders to remit, exposed a weak- 
ness in his otherwise wonderful commercial sagacity. 

Had the charter of the old Bank of the United States 
been renewed, as was expected by him, the profits of 
Mr. Girard upon this speculation would have amounted 
to a large fortune ; but we should then, perhaps, never 
have seen his bank established, or his great character 
fully developed. 

The opinions of a republican citizen, so eminently 
endowed with the highest powers of genius and concep- 
tion, upon the constitutionality and usefulness of such an 
institution as the Bank of the United States, cannot but 
prove interesting at all times, and command that re- 
spect and consideration, to which his sagacity, his judg- 
ment, his experience, and his love of liberty, entitle them 
to. A strict disciple of the political tenets of Thomas 
Jefferson, and always arrayed on the side of popular 
rights and free doctrines — himself a practical illustra- 
tion of the simple and republican principles advocated 
by that eminent patriot and statesman — Stephen Gi- 
rard would have been the last among his kind to have 
espoused the charter of the Bank of the United States, 
had it been either inimical in principle, or dangerous in 
tendency, to the rights of the people, or the prosperity 
of the country. His opinion, therefore, is to be receiv- 
ed as that of a citizen, always jealous of the power of 
government, and inflexibly devoted to justice and law. 
Mr. Girard held the bank to be constitutional from the 
most obvious dictates of necessity, expediency, and be- 
neficent effects — the surest test of right, being that which 
not only produces no wrong, but begets positive benefits 
to all parties ; and he considered these to be resolvable 
into the people, the states, and the Union. What bene- 






STEPHEN GIRARD. 107 

fits every part, and at the same time results in the good 
of the whole, politically as well as financially, and in the 
most enlarged commercial sense, he contended, worked 
out its own right to exist under a free Constitu* 
tion, which never can be supposed to inhibit, without 
a glaring solecism, what operates to the universal good 
of the whole people. Conceiving it indispensable to the 
soundness of the currency, the facile operations, or the 
beneficent measures of government, he stood foremost 
among those, if he was not the first, to urge upon 
Alexander J. Dallas, to recommend the present insti- 
tution to Congress — thus having the double merit of 
opposing the dissolution of the first Bank of the Unit- 
ed States, and suggesting the incorporation of the 
second, or present bank. These opinions and views, it 
is almost superfluous to mention, he either derived from 
his cashier, Mr. Simpson, or received from him con- 
firmatory evidence of their soundness. Mr. Girard, in 
all these opinions and relations, acted without reference 
to his own interest, and on general principles of national 
utility, conducive to the common welfare. It was not 
favourable to his interest as a banker or a capitalist, to 
have another national institution of this kind, save on 
the ground common to all, that it gave stability to pro- 
perty, stimulus to industry, and security to trade. Yet 
so cogent and powerful were his convictions, that the 
paper credit system never could be sound without the 
controlling hand of government to stay and sustain its 
excesses, and prevent its fluctuations, that he never 
ceased to lament its extinction, and never lost sight of 
it, as a serious desideratum to the country, until he suc- 
ceeded in procuring its restoration. In the course of his 
daily experience, under the promptings of the acute and 
powerful mind of his cashier, when devising the means 
of aiding government in its embarrassed operations — he 

k 2 



108 BIOGRAPHY Of 

became more and more convinced of the absolute neces* 
sity of a national institution, with branches located in 
every state — and he often declared, that no substitute 
could ever be had for this great sanative check upon 
the rottenness of the local currencies, when left to that 
pernicious expansion, which they never failed to re- 
ceive from the unrestricted exercise of individual cu- 
pidity. 

Most of these evils, it is true, resulting from the dissolu- 
tion of the old Bank of the United States, had been abun- 
dantly experienced by Mr. Girard, as well in his commer- 
cial, as in his financial character* Few indeed, who had 
property to be affected by it, or business which required a 
stable circulating medium, but felt the pestilence of the 
rag-money that succeeded the dissolution of the old bank. 
It incommoded all i ruined many ; and injured society in 
general. It unsettled the principle of value; and caused 
a depression of property, not always unfavourable to the 
large capitalist, but ruinous to the small proprietor. The 
suspension of specie payments, did, it is true, prevent 
him from issuing his own bank notes 5 but this was of 
trifling consideration, for at the most favourable stages 
of the currency, he very seldom had an amount of notes 
in circulation, to make it an object of profit; not owing 
to his want of credit, or of custom $ but thai lack of in- 
dividual exertion, which combinations of interested 
managers of a public institution, naturally and very 
laudably begets. 

Of this fact, however, no doubt can be entertained, 
that his opinions and convictions, upon the question of 
the Bank of the United States, derived no hue or force 
from his interest. They were the independent and 
pure results of ratiocination, acting upon facts and prin- 
ciples, in the abstract, without reference to their bear- 
ings upon his profits or property. In this respect, no man 



STEPHEN GIHARD. 109 

was more intellectual and scientific than Girard; or so lit- 
tle disposed to form an opinion of any public measure or 
institution, from mercenary considerations of paltry gain. 

The non-renewal of the charter, proved a sad blow 
to hopes long cherished, and plans matured into imagi- 
nary perfection by the great merchant. But it was not 
in the character of Girard, to give way to despondency, 
or to fail in suggesting an expedient to remedy the evil. 
Disappointed of profit from this source, Mr. Girard 
conceived the idea of establishing a private bank, in 
preference to investing so large a capital in any of the 
public funds, which although they would have afforded 
a better interest, could have been of no utility to the 
public, a consideration, which in the judgment of Mr. 
Girard, was sufficient in itself to decide his opinion, apart 
from that natural impulse of ambition, which he could 
not avoid feeling at becoming the first Banker in the 
United States. 

It can hardly be supposed, that in taking this impor- 
tant step, which created a new and higher era in his 
life, he was less aware of all its consequences to his 
own fame, and to the public, which even less attentive 
and more superficial observers could perceive. At that 
epoch, a rich merchant was no extraordinary character $ 
but a rich banker was a character new and previously 
unknown to the American public ; especially when 
backed by his millions, and able to compete with the 
National Treasury itself, in sustaining the public cre- 
dit, and preserving the currency from depreciation. 

To suppose that the ambition of Girard had no share 
in inducing him to establish this institution, would as- 
sume him to be more or less than a mortal. His love of 
money, was, it is true, a high and commanding passion 
of his nature $ but this could not have been the impulse 
to a branch of business, which yielded him less profit 
than any mode of investment which he could have 



110 BtO&RAPHt Of 

chosen. The cause, therefore,not being adequate to the 
effect, we must resort to some other. 

Many are incredulous as to the ambition of this sin- 
gular man, and can see nothing but his avarice. Such 
an impression is the offspring of a superficial view of 
his character. He was never what may strictly be termed 
a. miser: he did not love, and did not seek to acquire, 
money for itself: he did not hoard, but constantly kept 
it in brisk circulation ; and as often applied it to pur- 
poses more calculated to extend his fame, than to in- 
crease his profits ; affording conclusive evidence, that a 
passion stronger than that of avarice, was at the bottom 
of those measures, which brought his character into 
notice, and consecrated his name to renown. 

If ever naked and icy ambition ruled the heart of a 
human being, it controled that of Stephen Girard. But 
it was not a reckless, wild, and isolated ambition 5 but 
a considerate, calculating, and prudent one — that would 
husband all its means to secure its grand and final ob- 
ject. Not a brilliant, a gaudy, and a dazzling ambition, 
but a solid, sober, and determined one — which created 
a thousand eyes to every sense of his own interest, and 
made him stone-blind to every object, but that of fame. 

He accordingly held a consultation with George 
Simpson, in the spring of 1812, and having ascertained 
through him, that he could purchase the bank, and the 
cashier's house, at the very reduced price of one hun- 
dred and twenty thousand dollars, less than one-third of 
their cost — and Mr. Simpson having consented to ar- 
range and conduct the affairs of his bank, on the same 
terms, and the same principles that had governed him 
in the Bank of the United States ; — he completed the 
purchase of the property, and on the 12th day of May, 
in the same year, commenced his banking operations, 
with a capital of one million two hundred thousand dol- 
lars 1 which he increased on the 1st January, 1813, to 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 1 1 I 

one million three hundred thousand dollars. The business 
of the old Bank of the United States, was immediately 
transferred to Mr. Girard's bank ; including an immense 
amount, not less than five millions of specie; the Bank 
of the United States, depositing all its funds in his 
vaults ; thus giving him an extent of resources, and 
a command of money, perhaps never before exampled in 
this, or any other country. Thus fortified by the im- 
mense deposits of the National Bank, and the high repu- 
tation of his cashier for probity and intelligence, he 
commenced business under auspices the most cheering 
and brilliant to his interest, as well as highly gratifying 
to his feelings and his pride. 

The officers of the old bank were all retained by Mr. 
Simpson, when he was invested with plenary power over 
the concerns of the institution. The same scale of expen- 
diture was of course continued ; and no perceptible diffe- 
rence was observable. Most of the customers of the old 
bank continued to transact business with Mr. Girard, 
and a large portion of the custom house bonds were 
collected through his bank. 

He obtained the banking-house, together with the 
dwelling of the cashier, on the most favourable terms; 
the purchase money being only one hundred and twenty 
thousand dollars. The bank alone had cost upwards of 
three hundred thousand dollars, and the mansion of the 
cashier forty thousand dollars. But the price given by 
Mr. Girard, could not have been obtained from any 
monied institution, or corporate body. 

This event was no every day occurrence. There are 
few men in the world who could thus have taken the po- 
sition of a national bank, and inherited all its confidence, 
and its credit, without making an effort to establish the 
one, or conciliate the other. 

We are to look for the cause of this success in that 
trait of character which distinguished in so eminent a 



112 BIOGRAPHY OF 

degree, this extraordinary being — that he acted on the 
principle of never anticipating his fortune, or attempting 
to act, until all his resources were ready and matured 
to sustain him : like a man-of-war, which never comes 
in to battle until the decks are cleared, and the ship 
ready for action. In this respect, his example is worthy 
of all imitation. No man ever heard Girard boast of 
what he would do, in time to come. He remained quiet 
and silent until the time did come, and then he struck 
the blow with an aim that could not miss its object ; and 
a weight of capital, which ensured him success. He 
knew the difference between a silent and active man of 
business, and a prattling, boasting, and empty pretender, 
who is always scheming, but never acting ; and making 
the coffee-house echo to his wisdom, while his notes are 
protesting at the bank. Girard, in his time, had seen 
flocks of these parrots fall around him, without exciting 
any emotion, save a suppressed ejaculation of contempt 
for their folly and presumption. But his was the path 
of the majestic eagle — onward and upward he soared, 
on steady and well-poised wings ; and none marked his 
noiseless way, until they saw him reach the glittering 
summit of their darling hopes, looking down from the 
pinnacle of fame, upon his prostrate competitors. 

This figure will not be deemed far-fetched, when it is 
remembered, that Girard, in his new bank, adopted the 
emblem of the nation's glory — the American Eagle. This, 
and a ship, under full sail, formed his coat of arms for 
his bank notes. 

The contract between Mr. Girard and Mr. Simpson was 
drawn up by me ; and it is due to his character to state, 
that in this organization of his bank, he evinced a libe- 
rality, which few men, under similar circumstances, 
would have been willing to practice. I allude to his 
ready adoption of the scale of expenditures adopted by 
the old bank $ although it must be confessed that he had 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 113 

little or no choice upon this head; for my father would 
not have agreed to any other ; and it is not probable, Mr. 
Girard would have established his bank without his co- 
operation and agency. 

On this subject, however, much difference of opinion 
has been held. It was supposed by some, that a feeling 
of friendship for George Simpson, had been his sole in- 
ducement to establish his bank; but such knew little 
of the peculiar mind of Girard. Yet, to the world, cir- 
cumstances held out appearances very favourable to this 
impression ; notwithstanding its fallacy, and total con- 
tradiction to the general principles of action, which go- 
verned this eccentric being. 

Notwithstanding he has used the term "friend," as 
applied to Judge Bree, of Louisiana, in apart of his 
will ; I am still inclined to doubt, whether Stephen Gi- 
rard, ever felt the force of the feeling, or properly con- 
ceived the relation which the word expresses. The 
whole course of his life refutes the hypothesis of his 
being accessible to such an emotion. 

The common relations and accidental associations 
generated by the course of trade and business, will not 
establish his sensibility to that community of thought 
and feeling, which is expressed by the term friendship. 
And it is now, matter of history, that this communion 
of the heart and mind, was as utterly incompatible with 
the character of Stephen Girard, as would have been a 
community of goods, with the first fifty men who might 
enter into his compting-house, to purchase his merchan- 
dize. For George Simpson, he, doubtless, felt that re- 
spect and esteem, which his virtues and talents were 
calculated to inspire; but that he ever held him in the 
endeared relation of a friend, there is no reason to be- 
lieve ; for one overflowed with the milk of human kind- 
ness, which, in the estimation of the other, denoted a 
weakness incompatible with worldly prosperity. 



114 BIOGRAPHY OF 

Whatever the motive, the bank was established^ and 
conduced to the public accommodation, to an extent sel- 
dom before equalled. * 

No delay in the operations was caused by any prepara- 
tory measure. Most men would have waited to have 
bank notes engraved, filled up, registered, signed, and 
countersigned. But Stephen Girard was a man of 
business, not a man of form. He made use therefore, 
in making payments, of the notes of the State Banks, until 
his own were completed : after which he issued bills of 
his own bank, countersigned by his cashier, which 
passed quite as current as the notes of the old Bank of 
the United States. 

By this prompt establishment of his institution, much 
of the distress of bankruptcy, which would otherwise 
have been caused by the abstraction of the capital of the 
old bank from circulation, was averted, so far as it 
related to this community $ and the void caused by it's 
cessation almost instantaneously supplied by the funds of 
the banker. 

At the time he commenced banking, he had no pecu- 
liar method of transacting business $ this he left entire- 
ly to his cashier, who acted on the system of the old 
bank, of fair and impartial accommodation to all credita- 
ble traders. It can hardly be supposed that Mr. Girard 
had ever studied the theory and principles of banking 
as a science. What he knew of it, he had learned from 
observation, and placing unlimited confidence in the 
talents and experience of his cashier, whose knowledge 
of banking had been acquired by forty years labour in 
the vocation, it can hardly be imagined, that he would 
deem it necessary himself to enter deeply into the busi- 
ness. The system on which he loaned money, was 
simple, being founded on the combined principle of 
equity and interest. All the small notes that were con- 
sidered good, were discounted in preference to those 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 1 1 5 

that were large. Two objects were accomplished by 
this system — to accommodate small dealers, promote the 
industry of young beginners in trade, and to divide the 
risk for the security of the banker. A fair running ac- 
count was considered sufficient to entitle a creditable 
applicant to liberal accommodations. This was the fa- 
vourite system of George Simpson, while acting as his 
cashier. The amount of deposits was not regarded by 
him as an absolute scale upon which to graduate and 
apportion discounts ; a principle whose safety, as well 
as justice, may well be disputed \ for no man of good 
credit will consent to pay interest for money, whilst he 
has a balance in bank at his disposal $ nor will he be 
anxious to bolster his credit by so weak an expedient ; 
which, on the other hand, will be very readily resorted 
to, by those who, having little credit and less cash, will 
make any sacrifice to obtain liberal discounts. To act 
on a regular balance sheet, therefore, in the loaning of 
money, is to encourage and entice the artful, to prac- 
tice the deposit for the sake of the loan, reckless of the 
ability, as well as the intention of final payment. 

On this point Mr. Girard manifested that obstinacy 
for which he was so remarkable, and exhibited that ab- 
sence of scientific information, which is so often the con- 
comitant of men wholly self-educated. He maintained, 
that the scale of deposits ought to be the ratio of loans ; 
and thus sowed the seeds of many spurious accounts, 
which afterwards involved him in considerable losses. 
The principle was wholly fallacious and deceitful \ as 
was proved by its results ; for it failed entirely to coerce 
that balance of deposits which he sought to obtain by 
it $ and which nothing short of a board of directors, 
and a company of stockholders, can ever secure to a 
monied institution. 

It is often matter of astonisment, to find one so gene- 
rally correct and extended in his views of business ; so 

L 



1 1 6 BIOGRAPHY Of 

deficient of exact knowledge on other points, and occa- 
sionally so bigotted and perverse. We are, however, 
to refer this weakness to his deficiency of education, 
rather than to his want of acumen and sagacity. 

Men who have picked up casual knowledge, or im- 
proved themselves by cursory reading, often exhibit 
these tracts of sterile intellect, on certain subjects, which 
seem to be uncongenial to their minds. They resemble 
a piece of ground, on which the seed have not taken 
root, or which by accident, has escaped cultivation. 

It is, therefore certain, that had Girard undertaken 
the commencement of his bank himself, he must have 
failed in the experiment, and miscarriage would have 
been the inevitable result. 

Girard, therefore, I think, did not evince his usual 
sagacity, when, upon the death of Mr. Simpson, he 
adopted the plan of graduating discounts upon deposits 
and neglecting the small notes of traders, commenced 
loaning his capital chiefly to auctioneers, for which he as- 
signed two motives sufficiently cogent ; on one account, 
because of their endorsement, and on another, the cer- 
tainty that he was dealing in business paper, passed in 
trade for real equivalents. As far as they went, these 
were sound reasons; but he omitted to extend his view 
to the consequences on the money market, growing out 
of the monopoly of his capital by auctioneers — which 
enabled them to make heavy advances to the British 
importers ; which advances, when bills on England 
rose above the common level, they invested in specie ex- 
ports to Europe. It must be admitted, that this effect 
was extraneous to his banking operations ; and one 
which he was not bound to consider : — but it is for this 
very reason the more calculated to excite surprise, to 
find that he did not, with his wonted and eccentric saga- 
city, act upon it. One motive that no doubt had its 
influence over his mind, was the large amounts he had 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 117 

lost in the commencement of his banking business, by 
having discounted accommodation paper, the difficulty in 
detecting which inclined him so strongly to the endors- 
ed and apparently real paper of the auctioneers. In 1816, 
however, anew rule was adopted, that no paper ostensive- 
ly of a fictitious character, should be discounted ; so that 
an understanding existed with all borrowers, that no 
renewal of a note was ever to be made. After this regu- 
lation, his losses were reduced to a very trifling amount; 
while his business continued to augment in value and 
profit. 

The fallacy of the speculations that have been indulged 
in, to an almost endless extent, as to the real motive that 
prompted him to establish this institution, I have al- 
ready adverted to ; but it surely need excite no extraor- 
dinary ingenuity to explain, why a man so opulent, 
should make his capital tangible under his own name 
and touch. It is certain, that the period was highly 
critical, at which he established it ; and it is impossible 
to calculate the immense benefits that it conferred on 
mercantile credit and solvency; but they must have 
been extensively beneficial. Yet it would be rather 
bordering on the romantic to presume, that Mr. Girard 
created his bank solely for the public benefit and accom- 
modation. On the other hand, it would be highly 
ungenerous to decide, that considerations of public 
accommodation, had no influence in deciding him to 
this useful application of his funds; but knowing him 
to have been extremely ambitious, under his meek and 
humble guise, as well as extravagantly devoted to the 
passion of accumulation, it is but just to ascribe to him 
as much of the latter at least, as of the former feeling. 
I have already expressed my opinion as to the folly of 
the surmise, that a feeling of friendship towards George 
Simpson, had [any influence in deciding him to this pe- 
culiar investment of his capital, although as I before 



118 BIOGRAPHY OF 

said, many circumstances seem to give probability to 
this conjecture. Yet there existed no affinity of views 
or feelings between Mr. Girard and my father, at all 
calculated to engender a sentiment so exalted and pure; 
besides, that his best friends have never been able to 
discover, that he ever permitted the weakness of one of 
the amiable or ennobling feelings, to disturb the calcu- 
lations of his interest, or bias the destination of his pro- 
perty. He was indebted to his head, not his hearty for 
all his enterprises, schemes, projects, and speculations. 
Had he permitted the latter to disturb the profitable ad- 
justment of his measures, in any instance, he would have 
lived to mourn over diminished thousands, instead of 
exulting in his old age in the possession of increasing 
millions, that doubled in virtue of their own weight. 

But whatever may have been his motives, and those 
of gain and ambition, are the only natural and rational 
inducements to its institution, it is certain that his bank 
proved incalculably beneficial, as well to the commercial, 
trading, manufacturing, and mechanical community— 
as to the country at large — to the government and to 
the currency of the union, which in conjunction with the 
present Bank of the United States, at a subsequent pe- 
riod, it contributed to restore to a sound and wholesome 
condition. 

Perhaps no private bank in any country, ever proved 
so essentially serviceable to the government, as that of 
Stephen Girard. From the period of its institution up 
to the year 1817, when the present National Bank super- 
ceded his financial operations in that direction — this 
action of his funds and facilities was incessant and im- 
portant. To all of the loans during the war, he re- 
ceived large subscriptions. The dissolution of the old 
Bank of the United States had thrown the fiscal affairs of 
government into great confusion and embarrassment. 
The suspension of specie payments added to their per- 



STEPHEN GIRARD. I 1 9 

plexities, and augmented the public alarm. The exi- 
gencies occasioned by the war — rushed into without 
preparation, and conducted with no digested system of 
finance to sustain it — and depending on the casual sup- 
plies of each successive day — rendered frequent appeals 
to the resources of Girard's Bank, absolutely necessary 
and unavoidable. During the war, frequent temporary 
loans and advances were made to government by his 
bank — which thus essentially aided to sustain the 
public credit, as well as expedite our belligerent opera- 
tions $ and which were, independent of his regular sub- 
scriptions to authorised loans, frequently the spontaneous 
efforts of patriotism, unprompted by interest, and un- 
requited by reward. 

However strange and inconsistent it may appear, 
to refer any action of Mr. Girard to a disinterested 
motive, still it is within the scope of that variety of the 
human character, which often excites astonishment by 
its anomalous features. In respect to the subject of 
this biography, a discrimination may be drawn, between 
motives immediately disinterested, which finally termi- 
nate in promoting our interest; but which ulterior 
result, being hidden from view, leaves the first induce- 
ment only obvious to perception. 

It may be doubted, whether any man ever acted 
from a motive of pure disinterestedness. Such unalloyed 
feeling is not consonant to the instincts and passions of 
our nature; and we, therefore, class that act among the 
disinterested, when the interested object i»s not immedi- 
ately in view. In this sense, we may surely allot to 
Stephen Girard, a measure of patriotism not irreconci- 
lable with his predominant passion. 

Yet the position may well be disputed, that a man 
who is avaricious, may not at the same time be liberal 
and even generous. We have seen Girard give a thou- 
sand dollars to a church, and three thousand dollars to 

l2 



120 BIOGRAPHY OF 

a hospital ; and at the same time evince the most acute 
sensibility to save a cent, or recover a single dollar. 
Ambition will explain this apparent anomaly, and 
ambition only. 

Independent of this, different humours will sway the 
mind at different times. At one moment generosity 
may predominate; at another time, patriotism ; and then 
again, avarice. 

When the combined influence of the non-intercourse- 
act, the war, and the dissolution of the old Bank of the 
United States, caused the State Banks to resort to a 
suspension of specie payments, in order to avoid total ruin 
and bankruptcy, Mr. Girard became greatly embarrass- 
ed, as to the course he should adopt, to avoid the drain 
of his specie, and yet preserve his character for strict 
integrity and fair dealing; but he was soon relieved of 
his inquietude, by the suggestions of Mr. Simpson, who 
advised and instantly adopted the expedient of paying 
out the notes of the State Banks, in place of his own, 
which he drew in, by paying the specie for them ; so 
that at no period of the most disastrous crisis of our 
currency, was a bank note of Stephen Girard ever suf- 
fered to become depreciated. This husbanding of his 
resources, subsequently enabled him, in 1817, to con- 
tribute so materially to the restoration of specie pay- 
ments. 

This fact is important, as shewing that Girard was 
never seduced into an imprudent measure, by the pros- 
pect of immediate profit; but was satisfied to do what 
appeared to promise permanent advantage, though di- 
rectly, rather detrimental than profitable. The common 
order of men would have attempted to force their notes 
into circulation, and redeem them when presented for 
payment, with the common circulating medium of'the 
country. But neither the integrity, nor the credit of 
Girard, were thus to be sported with ; and he accord- 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 1 2 1 

ingly consented, rather to lose the temporary advantage 
procured by the circulation of his notes, than tarnish 
his character by the suspension of specie payments. For, 
it must be recollected, that Stephen Girard's Bank never 
refused to pay the specie for a note of Stephen GirardJ 

I have heard of but one instance, in which his name 
was ever protested ; but even then, it was not his name, 
but that of his agent in Europe, on whom he had drawn 
bills, that became dishonoured; for as soon as they 
were presented to him, after their return, he immediate- 
ly paid them. They had been purchased by my father, 
for Government, to pay the interest of the funded debt in 
Europe. But Girard, for some reason not now recollected 
demurred to the damages of 20 per cent : which, after 
some negotiation, was remitted. I retain a distinct im- 
pression of the general character of the plea that he 
entered for this remission of damages, that it was sound 
and equitable, but singular ; and proved the high faculty 
of discrimination that characterized his intellect. 

The facilities afforded by his bank, enabled him in 
1813, to accomplish a commercial enterprize of great 
moment, as it respected the value of the property to the 
trade of the city, the amount of the profits he realized — 
and the accession of funds to government, which accrued 
from the duties on the cargo — a consideration of no 
mean character even to the national treasury, at that 
pressing emergency and trying juncture. His ship 
" Montesquieu*" had been captured by a British frigate 
at the mouth of the river Delaware ; perhaps at the iden- 
tical spot from which he so narrowly escaped with his 
little schooner, when he was encountered by captain 
King, off the capes of this port, in 1776 : a coincidence 
of peril and escape, in the commencement of our two 
great wars with England, which certainly constitute 
no inconsiderable feature in the life of this extraordina- 



122 BIOGRAPHY OF 

ry man ; every event of whose career seems touched 
with circumstances out of the ordinary routine of life. 
The commander of the British frigate, aware of the 
danger of attempting to carry his prize to an English 
port, wisely adopted the resolution to send a flag of truce 
to Mr. Girard, to negotiate for ransom, in preference 
to running the risk of recapture by our American fri- 
gates. The Montesquieu had an invoice cargo of two 
hundred thousand dollars; and it was concluded by Mr. 
Girard, to pay 93,000 dollars in doubloons, as her ran- 
som. At that period, it would have been utterly im- 
possible even for Mr. Girard, to have procured this 
amount of gold, but for the fortunate existence of his 
"little institution," a term that he sometimes applied to 
his bank. Specie payments were even then suspended 
in fact — nor could that amount of gold easily have been 
purchased; but it was with the utmost ease that his 
overcrammed vaults disgorged this, to him, small sum, 
so that the ransom was immediately transmitted to the 
British commander; and the Montesquieu was liberated. 

This cargo was immensely valuable at that time, con- 
sisting of teas, silks, and nankeens, from Canton ; all of 
which had advanced in price, one and two hundred per 
cent; so that, notwithstanding the additional expense of 
ransom, his great profits on this adventure must have 
added at least half a million to his fortune. 

On this occasion, Girard did not dissemble the ex- 
treme satisfaction he felt, at so brilliant a stroke of for- 
tune ; for to what else shall we refer the capture of a 
ship at the capes of the Delaware, that had passed 
through such an immense tract of ocean, alive with the 
canvass of Great Britain ? To the congratulations of 
his friends, he returned the most good natured sallies 
of wit and humour. My father having observed to him, 
" Well, Mr. Girard, to be a good merchant, you see, it is 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 123 

necessary to have a bank 5" he replied, "Yes, Mr. Simp- 
son, and to have a good bank, it is necessary to have a 
cashier like you." 

It was on these occasions of good fortune, that his 
heart seemed most to expand under the glow of good 
nature and fellowship. At such times, he would shake 
the proffered hand of congratulation with the utmost 
cordiality; but would soon relapse into the cold contem- 
plation of millions, enveloped in the hidden womb of 
future speculation. 

He who was thus alive to the impressions of good 
fortune, would, of course, feel as acutely, when visited 
by the losses and misfortunes of trade. On these occa- 
sions he would, in the bank, put on an air of some in- 
difference ; but it would soon be evident from his pro- 
tracted stay, his increased volubility, and his rigour of 
inquiry as to the means by which the loss occurred, and 
by which it could be recovered, that it sat heavy on his 
mind, and caused excessive purturbation. At his compt- 
ing-house, when commercial losses occurred, his over- 
flow of temper was excessively annoying, as he vented 
his feelings of disappointment on all around him. 

I have already adverted to that spirit of patriotism, 
which, on many emergencies, distinguished the conduct 
of Mr. Girard towards the government. This was emi- 
nently manifested in 1814, when the credit of the coun- 
try being prostrated : its resources exhausted to the last 
cent : the cry of treason and disunion striking dismay 
into the stoutest hearts, and completing the terror al- 
ready excited by the victorious invasions of the enemy 
at all points : the treasury bankrupt, and subscriptions 
solicited in vain to a small loan of five millions, at 7 per 
cent. — besides an immense bonus — when all these expe- 
dients and enticements had failed, and but twenty thou- 
sand dollars could be obtained to it — at such a crisis, 
and under such appalling and disheartening circum» 



124 



BIOGRAPHY OF 



stances, did Stephen Girard step forward, undismayed, 
bold, confident, and determined to hazard his fortune 
for the country— and subscribed for the whole amount. 
The effect of this action on public credit, was electrical. 
The timid became bold, and the avaricious fancied 
themselves suddenly transformed into patriots. Those 
who had shrunk from it as a gulf of ruin, now rushed 
forward to Mr. Girard, and became clamorous for a 
share. It was granted to them,- and many were admit- 
ted to subscribe on the original terms, by Mr. Girard, 
afterwards, who had before refused it,- and when he 
could have obtained an advance of from five to ten per 
cent. When we consider all the circumstances of this 
event; the low state of public confidence in government 

— the gloom that overspread the whole country the 

dark doings of the Hartford Convention to paralyse the 
arm of national defence, and shake public credit into 
convulsions — when the chance of preserving the union, 
and obtaining the reimbursement of the capital, was 
not even as great as that which attends the high 
prize of a lottery— who can deny, that Stephen Girard 
merits all the renown due to the patriot, who, in the 
darkest hour of danger, upholds his country ? Unques- 
tionably, this was a great man — an undaunted patriot — 
an exemplary and heroic philanthropist ! 

It has been argued, against the merit of this subscrip- 
tion, on the part of Girard, that the immense profit made 
it too much a matter of invested speculation, to permit 
the existence of a solitary impulse of patriotism, with- 
out considering, that the ivhole question of interest was 
contingent upon the issue of the country's struggles 
against an intestine foe, and a foreign war, unparallelled 
in rancour, and unexampled in disasters and defeats. 
The inducements to subscribe to the k>an, were prof- 
fered to the public in general ; and yet the public failed 
to accept of the offer, standing aloof, from a reasonable 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 



125 



apprehension of the total dissolution of the Union, and 
the breaking up of the Constitution. Patriotism and 
confidence were worn out and exhausted ; and all refused 
the golden temptation, because the risk of loss appeared 
to preponderate above the prospect of gain ! 

It may be, indeed, that Girard calculated differently 
from his neighbours ; that he saw or knew, more than 
they did ; but if so, his merit of having saved the coun- 
try, in her darkest hour of distress, is not diminished — 
for it was his act that did save her, whatever may have 
been the speculations that governed his conduct, and 
impelled him to stand in the breach between the bank- 
; ruptcy and the credit of the nation. 

The future historian will not disparage the patriotism 
of Stephen Girard upon this occasion. Time, as it 
sweeps away the mist of prejudice and passion, will 
enable posterity to do full justice to his public services, 
' during the eventful struggle of 1814, in extricating the 
l republic from fiscal embarrassment, and ruin to her 
credit and resources. 

Yet how little government appreciated this act, may 
i be gathered from the fact, that the ignorant and bigotted 
I man, whom faction in her blindest mood, had called to 
preside over the treasury of the United States, refused 
to allow his cashier, George Simpson, the stipulated 
; commission of one-eighth of one per cent, for obtaining 
| it — though under special contract so to do. The acting 
secretary of the treasury, at that time, was Mr. William 
Jones, a sea captain of this port ; whom the ivildness of 
party spirit had carried into regions for which both na- 
ture and education had wholly disqualified him. The 
opinions of Mr. Girard on this subject, and this man, 
were such as proved his knowledge of human nature, 
and attested to his love of justice. He thought Mr. 
Jones out of his sphere ; and the government discre- 
dited by his incompetency 5 and in the instance of his 



126 BIOGRAPHY OF 

cashier's commission, by his bigotted injustice, which 
evidently had its source in that low rancour of party 
spirit, that a mean man always feels towards his supe- 
rior, who views him with contempt. Subsequent 
events confirmed the correctness of Mr. Girard 's esti- 
mation of Captain Jones. 

Perhaps no man could more properly estimate the 
value of others, than Stephen Girard, as far as business 
qualifications, and their usefulness to his own purposes, 
extended. In this respect, he had adopted some gene- 
ral principles, as criteria of character, which evinced his 
sagacity to be not only acute, but his observation exten- 
sive. One of these principles was, never to place confi- 
dence in the qualifications of those whom party favour- 
itism, or political fervour, threw up into places, which 
they never could have reached, without the factitious 
aid of faction. Nor was this a mere prejudice — on the 
contrary, it was a sound maxim, justified by facts, and 
sustained by principles. It proceeded on the maxim, 
that he who has talents and industry, will rise to distinc- 
tion in proportion to the vigour of those talents, and the 
extent of his industry ; and that he, who seeks the ex- 
traneous force of party machinery, to attain any post 
not purely political, can have no genius to reach it, 
without such adventitious aid ; especially when a man 
has spent a long life without reaching to any eminence, 
and at last only acquires it through the arts and jugglery 
of the demagogue. 

Such ideas were perfectly consonant to the sound 
practical principles, and innate vigour of genius, that 
distinguished Girard ; who could see no merit but in 
the practical exercise of talent and industrv, to the useful 
purposes of life. A man, half politician, and half mer- 
chant, was the object of his unqualified contempt. A 
statesman, he repected ; but a political pretender, he 
most heartily despised $ and made it an object, never to 



STEPHEN GIRARD* 127 

confide business, or to share adventures with a pseudo 
politician, or a trading demagogue. 

I have already described the solicitude that was al- 
ways cherished by the subject of this biography, for the 
restoration of the Bank of the United States. The ap- 
pointment of Mr. A. J. Dallas to the treasury, was con- 
sidered by Girard and his cashier, as one of the first 
redeeming acts of wisdom on the part of Mr. Madison's 
administration ; for there was a scope of mind, a moral 
energy, and a political daring and responsibility about 
the man, that made up for those minor blemishes which 
deform, more or less, all violent partisans, and render 
them obnoxious to misconception and prejudice. Gi- 
rard took the earliest occasion to impregnate Mr. Dal- 
las with his views of the creation of a new national bank ; 
which he lived to see flourish beyond example, after hav- 
ing been perverted beyond all precedent or expectation, 
to the most unhallowed purposes of fraud and speculation. 

A considerable degree of intimacy had always sub- 
sisted between Mr. Girard and Alexander J. Dallas, as 
well as between the latter and his cashier, Mr. Simpson ; 
an intimacy begotten by the official station of Mr. Dallas, 
and the connexion subsisting between the banker and 
Mr. Simpson with the government. Mr. Dallas, as 
District Attorney, was constantly brought in contact 
with both. This was especially the case, during the 
disastrous period which succeeded the dissolution of the 
old bank ; and in the frequent interviews, and numerous 
discussions which arose between Mr. Girard, Mr. Simp- 
son, and Mr. Dallas, the policy of another national bank 
was always strongly insisted on by the former, and as 
readily admitted by the latter. 

It is not intended to detract from the merit of Mr. 
Dallas, in this suggestion ; but merely to trace the ex- 
tensive influence and operation of Girard, upon the 
measures and the policy of the government, at that pe- 

M 



128 BIOGRAPHY OF 

riod; an influence which resulted in the restoration of the 
national currency , to a state of soundness ;• and of the public 
credit, from utter bankruptcy, to vigour and confidence. 

Few of the bankers of Europe, though more splendid 
and ostentatious, have ever exercised so great an in- 
fluence upon their respective countries and their go- 
vernment, as Stephen Girard, with all his unobtrusive 
humility and personal meekness. This fact is fully ac- 
counted for, by the peculiar conjunctures of the country 
which happened in his time; having spent seventy years 
of his life as an American citizen. 

Money is the sinew of war. A nation that becomes 
belligerent, without having previously amassed wealth, 
must necessarily become more or less a slave to the ca- 
pitalist. The necessities of the country, and the wealth 
of Girard, explain his influence. 

Mr. Dallas was not slow in acting upon the hint of 
the French Banker ; and in his report to Congress, ac- 
tually made use of the expressions of Girard, that the 
national authority was indispensable for the restoration 
of a sound currency, through the agency of a national 
bank. Accordingly in 1816, a bill was passed by Con- 
gress, and sanctioned by Mr. Madison, to charter the 
present Bank of the United States ; subscriptions to 
which were opened in the spring of the same year, at 
his banking house, Mr. Girard being one of the com- 
missioners. On this, as on other occasions of the 
kind, he manifested that moderation and reserve, which 
always characterized him; he waited to the last day for 
receiving subscriptions, and then, as they were about to 
close, placed his name opposite the balance of the stock — 
being three millions, one hundred thousand dollars! Here 
again, his example stimulated others, as it had previous- 
ly done in the five million loan, to possess shares; and 
several gentlemen becoming importunate, he yielded 
to their wishes, and permitted them to take what they 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 129 

wanted at the par price ; eventually reserving to himself 
not more than a million and a half of dollars. 

At the time of his making this subscription to the 
Bank of the United States, it was his serious intention 
to amalgamate his own into this new institution; of 
which, in a great measure, he must be considered the 
parent ; and of which, even as it otherwise happened, 
he must always be looked upon as a benefactor. In this 
anticipation, however, Mr. Girard contemplated, with 
the eye of a patriot, the good of his country, instead of 
his own individual interest ; and it will not be going too 
far into the theory of the greatness of his mind to al- 
lege, that he had purchased the first Bank of the United 
States, merely as a trustee for the country, to hold up the 
credit and currency of the nation, as far as his individual 
mea^s would enable him ; in order to re-instate both, 
as they existed prior to the dissolution of the first 
charter in 1810. His necessary efforts to procure a new 
national bank, made in the interim between the expira- 
tion of the first, and the creation of the second institu- 
tion, and his offer made to the latter, to incorporate his 
bank capital on certain specified conditions, afford strong 
presumptive evidence, that the reach of his genius had 
extended to this profound scheme of patriotism, which 
he lived to accomplish, as far as individual intention, 
and his unwearied efforts could succeed. 

It will be seen, from the succeeding pages, that though 
he miscarried in the means, he finally triumphed in the 
end he aimed at — the restoration of the currency to a 
sound condition, and the recuscitation of public credit 
to its wonted elasticity. 

His agency in the organization and management of 
the present Bank of the "United States, now demands 
attention. 

The government having discovered their error in 
appointing Mr. Jones in the cabinet, had a short time 



130 BIOGRAPHY OF 

before superceded him ; to compensate him for which 
mortification, he had been placed at the head of the 
commissioners to open and receive subscriptions for the 
new bank, in which capacity he was evidently engaged 
in active intrigues, to obtain the presidentship of the 
institution, for the avowed object of converting it into 
an engine of speculation. Thus even before the sub- 
scriptions to the bank were filled, two parties were ar- 
rayed to obtain an ascendency in the board of directors, 
whose defeat or success, was to decide the character of 
the institution. At the head of one of these parties, 
stood Stephen Girard — animated by the single and honest 
desire to impel the bank to its legitimate and beneficial 
destination, of restoring the currency of the nation to a 
sound state, and retrieving the credit of government to 
its wonted elevation and vigour. At the head of the 
other party, stood Captain Jones, and General Samuel 
Smith, of Baltimore, burning with the unchaste fever 
of speculation, to prostitute it to the unwarrantable pur- 
poses of private aggrandizement and personal gain. 
Mr. Girard was in favour of placing the institution under 
the direction of Cadwalader Evans, Esq., as president, 
and George Simpson, as cashier $ whose integrity and 
talents, he conceived, would ensure it a sound and ju- 
dicious management, calculated to fulfil its object, and 
preserve it free from the taint of speculation. For this 
purpose, two tickets were run — the speculation, and the 
specie ticket — the Jones and the Girard ticket. The very 
object of the party opposed to Girard, insured its tri- 
umph* — the Jones directors were elected $ but previous 

* This object was, to admit men as large subscribers, who had no 
capital to pay in ; but who were to pledge, or hypothecate their stock 
to the bank above thenar value, until the spirit of inflation should 
enable them to realize a fortune at the expense of the credulous, 
honest, and unsuspecting* portion of the community. To this sys- 
tem of iniquitous gaming, Girard was honestly opposed ; and con- 



STEPHEN GIUARD* lot 

to their choice of officers, Mr. Girard, being one of the 
directors, arose, and proposed, that as the organization 
of the new bank would be a work of labour and difficulty, 
and that after all its subscription proportion of specie* 
it must still be very poor and deficient in the precious me- 
tals — that to save time and trouble in its organization, 
and to facilitate the resumption of specie payments — he 
was disposed to make every personal sacrifice, but that 
of integrity, of principle, and conduct, for which he 
then stood responsible to the country : that integrity of 
principle, and the great public ends to be accomplished 
by the bank, he never could and never would sacrifice. 
He proceeded to state, that he held in his vaults up^- 
wards of a million af specie — and that if the board would 
agree to elect Mr. Simpson the cashier of the Bank of 
the United States, he stood prepared to dissolve his 
bank, and merge the whole concern in the great national 
institution, that they were then about to organize. It 
is needless to add, that the feverish minds of the al- 
ready infatuated speculators, listened to his patriotic 
proposition with cool indifference, and rejected it with- 
out a moment's deliberation. How much the public, 
the country, and the government lost by this rejection* 
has since become matter of historical truth. The abuses 
of the institution at length attracted the attention* and 
led to the interference of government, to eject the specu- 
lators, and restore the bank to its legitimate object ; 
thus confirming the sagacity and patriotism of this ex 
traordinary man $ and paying the highest homage to his 
integrity of purpose, and alacrity to detect the latent 
poison, that ultimately endangered its existence. 

scientiously exerted himself against it. But the torrent of speculation 
that flowed from Baltimore and the south, was too powerful to be re- 
sisted ; and too unprincipled to feel abashed ; countenanced too as it 
was, by some of the most powerful monied combinations of New 
York and Philadelphia^ 

M 2 



132 BIOGRAPHY Of 

As one of its directors, Mr. Girard continued to act in 
opposition to the whole system of speculation ; and his 
interest in the institution was too great, to permit his 
advice to be wholly lost upon those who even opposed 
him. If he could not prevent the mischief, he at least 
curtailed it. Opposition, though it may not arrest 
error, intimidates from excess of evil, or wickedness. 
Bad counsellors when resisted, will often stop half way 
in their career of knavery. For three years, did Mr. 
Girard maintain this attitude of oppugn ation to the 
scheme of the hypothecation of the stock above its par 
value; on the avowed principle of that moral and fiscal 
integrity, for which he was distinguished through life; 
and which were so brightly illustrated in the career of 
George Simpson, in his management of the first Bank 
of the United States. 

Incredulity on this point has often been freely ex- 
pressed, on the ground that as • Mr. Girard availed 
himself of all the advantages of the rise of the stock, he 
could not, therefore, have been opposed to it. Illogical 
as this argument is, its want of cnoral principle to sus- 
tain it, is still more egregious. But the fact is too well 
established to be denied, as my personal knowledge ena- 
bles me to make an unqualified and positive affirmation. 
The minutes of the bank will attest the accuracy of this 
statement, beyond the power of incredulity, to make a 
denial. At the board of directors, which he always 
attended with unfailing punctuality, his attitude was 
ever in hostility to the schemes of speculation, adopted 
and carried through by Mr. Jones, Mr. Williams, and 
Mr. Buchanan, and General Smith; who carried the 
system of hypothecation to a height as desperate, as it 
proved dangerous. In this attitude, Mr. Girard was 
firm and inflexible; never liable to intimidation; and 
at all times prepared to defend his opinions by reason- 
ing at once conclusive and irresistible. 



STEPHEN GIRARD* 133 

In this arduous and laudable oppugnation he was 
ably sustained by two powerful auxiliaries ; his cashier, 
Mr. Simpson, and the talented and energetic Mr. Lloyd, 
then of Boston, late of this city, and now deceased : a 
gentleman whose probity of deportment, intelligence, and 
patriotism, lent no inconsiderable force to the anti-hypo- 
thecation party, from the inception of the scheme, to its 
final explosion and abandonment. Mr. Lloyd was one of 
those who espoused an honest organization of the institu- 
tion from its commencement,but who was constrained to 
succomb to the voice of a majority inflamed by cupidity, 
and reckless of all the consequences to the community. 

It cannot be doubted, that the public are mainly in- 
debted to Mr. Girard's opposition, for that final ex- 
purgation of its impurities, and its revolution in its 
concerns, from a mere state of personal speculation, to a 
character of extended public usefulness, which resulted 
from the investigation of a committee of Congress — of 
which Langdon Cheves, Esq. was the chairman : and 
whose subsequent presidentship of the institution, pre- 
pared the way for that final and complete reformation, 
accomplished by the lucid and able councils of the pre- 
sent distinguished head of the bank — Nicholas Biddle* 
Esq. When I say, however, that the public are mainly, 
though indirectly, indebted to Mr. Girard, for that re- 
formation in the management of the Bank of the United 
States, it must not be understood, that he directly and 
personally acheived that object, solely by the attitude he 
maintained at the board ; or by the opposition which 
he publicly manifested to its illicit and deleterious pro- 
ceedings. On no occasion was Mr. Girard ever known 
to be remarkable for active pugnacity towards public 
bodies, or powerful corporations $ not that he shrunk 
from an encounter with their power, but that his respect 
for the public restrained him from any excess of zeal, 
that might expose him to denunciation. This result, 



!34> BIOGRAPHY OF 

so auspicious to the community, was occasioned in a 
manner so circuitous, and unintentional on his part— -so 
remote and so unseen, that I am not absolutely certain, 
that he was conscious of its occurring through his 
agency ; or, by means of information originally impart- 
ed by him* It is, however, very certain, that the viru- 
lent opposition of the public press, to the original abuses 
of this valuable institution, growing out of its unjustifi- 
able perversion to private ends> would not, and perhaps 
could not have taken place, so as to produce a practical 
result of such immense magnitude, had not Mr. Girard 
assumed that attitude of opposition at the board, to the 
chief abuses then persisted in— particularly that of hy- 
pothecating the stock of the share-holders, at a sum above 
their par value; thereby giving an impulse to speculation, 
at the very fountain head. It might have been on this 
account, that there frequently appeared a strong coinci- 
dence of views between the author of the letters under 
the signature of " Brutus" and Mr. Girard himself; 
nor should I hesitate to say* that Mr. Girard had been 
instrumental in their publication, but for two circum- 
stances — first, the opposition of Brutus to the constitu- 
tional tenure of the bank, and the admission of this fact 
by Mr. Girard- — and secondj the incompatibility of his 
writings with the interest of the banker, whose fortune so 
materially depended for its gigantic enhancement, upon 
the rise of the stock. It can hardly be supposed, under such 
circumstances, that he ever could have desired the pub- 
lication of the letters of Brutus, had those compositions 
been submitted to him prior to their being printed, for 
his veto or approval. Yet that he held some sort of 
mysterious connection with that writer, appears from 
the fact, that he frequently stated to my father the pre- 
cise information that would appear in the letters of 
Brutus, on the succeeding morning; certainly not with 
the connivance of Mr, Girard; for though he was op- 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 135 

posed to the system of hypothecation, especially that 
which loaned 125 to 150 on the par shares of §100, yet it? 
would be preposterous to imagine, that he would do 
aught to reduce the price of stock, which it was his in- 
terest to see rise as high as possible ; but which his 
integrity would not suffer him to inflate^ by any direct 
and unwarrantable arts ; for like all men who have once 
tasted of the forbidden fruit, and find it sweet; when 
once he had gained his nett half million by the rise of 
the stock; he longed to realise the same profit a second 
time. It was some time, however, before he changed 
from that complacency with which he regarded the let- 
ters of Brutus, to censure and disapprove of his writings. 
But the moment the revulsion in the price of stock took 
place — from that moment he joined in open denuncia- 
tion of the writer, whose arguments he had before ap- 
plauded, and whose labours he classed among those of 
the patriots of the land ; for, save the sole point of con- 
stitutional authorization, he fully agreed with the publish- 
ed opinions of that writer, and often reminded his friends, 
with undissembled self-satisfaction, with what precision 
he had anticipated all the evils depicted by "Brutus." 
Opposed himself to the whole system of hypothecation* 
as deceptive, fraudulent, and calculated to impair the 
character, as well as destroy the utility of the institu- 
tion — it was natural that he should approve of all the 
expositions then made, that did not tend to invalidate, 
what no writer has yet been able to shake, the constitu- 
tional foundation of the Bank of the United States. A 
part, however, from that writer, and the popular excite- 
ment of the day, Mr. Girard's merit in that juncture 
I was of the highest kind ; and for thus breasting the tor- 
rent of the quack and spurious system of bank specula- 
j tion, he deserves all the praise which conduct, so sound 
I in finance, and so exemplary in morals, is calculated 
I even at this period to excite ; though he was not aware, 



136 BIOGRAPHY OF 

that his attitude would be productive of a popular excite- 
\ erit, leading to the adoption of measures that resulted 
in its total reformation — and notwithstanding, he per- 
sonally derived all the profit and advantages, which at- 
tended the fever of speculation that he so laudably en- 
deavoured to prevent, if not to arrest and terminate. 
Thus in spite of his own councils, and contrary to his 
own actions, he beheld the stock inflated to 160, whilst it 
was paying a dividend out of its capital, instead of its 
profits—and sold out to a profit of half a million of dol- 
lars ; still retaining the larger share of his original sub- 
scription. 

It is, however, very far from my meaning to intend to 
say, that Mr. Girard's powers of composition extended 
to the ability to produce those letters; although he 
was known to possess knowledge and information fully 
adequate to the task,, but which his want of leisure 
alone would have prevented him from exercising in this 
manner, even if the first principle was admissible,^ that 
he could have desired their publication, which his in- 
terest positively forbid in the most emphatic tones ; and 
to which passive integrity of purpose did not urge 

him. 

To be conscientious enough not to commit injustice, 
is very distinct from, and therefore perfectly compati- 
ble with that passive attitude, which does not actually 
interfere to prevent the injustice of others; a part of 
the character of chivalry that no one acquainted with 
the character of Girard's mind, would for a moment 
think of ascribing to him. 

In one view, the letters of " Brutus," proved a source* 
of much annoyance of him, to my knowledge, being fre- 
quently the subject of conversation between him and my 
father; by scattering all those hopes which he had so 
long and so fondly cherished, that the bank would 
prove a popular and beneficial institution, such as he 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 137 

had predicted, and for which it was calculated by its 
provisions and laws, rightly executed and applied. 

How far the intimacy between Girard and the writer 
of the letters under the signature of Brutus extended, 
can only be known by inference drawn from known co- 
incidence, and opposition of opinion. The idea that 
Girard ever paid for those productions, appears on the 
face of it too preposterous to be listened to a moment. 
That he must have known him, there is reason to believe, 
from the facts already stated $ but that he never divulged 
his name, may be numbered among those mysterious 
and eccentric actions for which he was, throughout 
his life, so remarkable. 

We here behold an accumulation of the fortune of 
Girard, in which he not only had no agency, but to the 
causes of which, from the very inception, he had been 
strenuously opposed $ as if a happy destiny presided 
over his wealth, in despite of his own wishes and designs ; 
and contrary to all his exertions to avert that chain of cir- 
cumstances, which ultimately conduced to enrich him. 

The restoration of a specie currency, has been thus 
described, by a creditable writer.* 

*'It was not till after the organization of the Bank of 
United States, in the latter part of January 1817, that 
delegates from the banks of New-York, Philadelphia, 
Baltimore, aud Virginia, assembled in Philadelphia, for 
the purpose of agreeing to a general and simultaneous 
resumption of specie payments. A compact proposed 
by the Bank of the United States, acceded to by the 
state banks, and ratified by the Secretary of the Treasu- 
ry, was the result of that convention. The state banks 
engaged to commence and continue specie payments, 
on various conditions, relative to the transfer and pay- 
ment of the public balances on their books to the Bank 

* Albert Gallatin, Esq. 



138 BIOGRAPHY OF 

of the United States, and to the sum which it engaged 
previously to discount for individuals, or under certain 
contingencies for the said banks, and also with the ex- 
press stipulation, that the Bank of the United States, 
upon any emergency which might menace the credit of 
any of the said banks, would contribute its resources to 
any reasonable extent in support thereof, confiding in 
the justice and discretion of the banks respectively, to 
circumscribe their affairs within the just limits indi- 
cated by their respective capitals, as soon as the inte- 
rest and convenience of the community would admit. 
To that compact, which was carried into complete ef- 
fect, and to the importation of more than seven millions 
of dollars in specie from abroad by the Bank of the 
United States, the community is indebted for the uni- 
versal restoration of specie payments, and for their 
having been sustained, during the period of great diffi- 
culty and of unexampled exportation of specie to China, 
which immediately ensued." 

This writer was not, perhaps, informed of the efficient 
agency of the Bank of Stephen Girard, in producing 
this important revolution in our currency ; and which 
equalled, if it did not exceed that of any other institu- 
tion in the country : owing to the great amount of specie 
which he had received from the old Bank of the United 
States ; and which he had preserved unimpaired. Si- 
multaneously, therefore, with the resumption of specie 
payments, Mr. Girard again issued his own notes $ and 
by the most liberal course of conduct, facilitated by 
every means in his power, the great object of securing 
to the country a sound and equal currency. 

How far his instrumentality in effecting this great 
object extended, is better known to those familiar with 
the operations of banking, than to the general reader. 
His forbearance: to exact specie from the Bank of the 
United States, at a time when that institution could not 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 139 

have summoned to its aid one half of the amount, in 
which it was indebted to him, had been proclaimed by 
4< Brutus," in a manner calculated to sooth the resent- 
ment of the banker, by paying a handsome tribute of 
merited praise to the power and patriotism of the man, 
the power of the banker, holding the solvency of a na- 
tional bank at his mercy, and the opulence and genius 
of the merchant, which enabled him at every crisis, to 
avoid the evils which crushed even the offspring of 
nations, and to extend succour to an empire, without re- 
quiring the extra motion of a single muscle of his 
fiscal body. Nor was this forbearance confined to the 
I national bank — it extended to all : and was based upon 
| that genuine principle of private interest, which recog- 
nizes safety for the individual only in the prosperity and 
good of society. 

It presents an anomaly in the human character of 
no ordinary nature, that one who appeared so contracted 
in his views of money-getting, should have been so ex- 
tremely liberal and comprehensive in his principles of 
action, as it related to the general laws of currency, pub- 
i lie credit, and political economy ; thus affording an- 
other illustration of that line of the poet, which de- 
scribes 4C the meanest and the greatest of mankind." 
It has never appeared so extraordinary to me, however, 
( that the extremes of opposite characters should meet in 
I the same man, and often disturb that identity of mind, 
which we acquire a habit of looking for, where it ought 
not to be expected. Uniform laws only govern minds 
and bodies of limited powers and circumscribed action. 
The great intellect, the mind endowed with genius, and 
whose flight is subject to no principle, and no laws, never 
can be regarded as identical with dullness, which moves 
like a clock, and measures with the accuracy of a pen- 
dulum, the principles of human conduct, as it does the 
progress of time. Extremes of all characters, are always 

N 



140 BIOGRAPHY OT 

to be met with in men of genius. It is this that we de- 
nominate eccentricity, and which distinguishes them as 
much from common men, as the revolution of comets, 
mark them out from the fixed orbits of regular planets, 
whose known laws are never violated by aberrations, 
that would deem it a different nature, and class them 
with another order of worlds. 

Hence it is, that the general mass of mankind are per- 
plexed to see the greatness of Girard. They can see 
his littleness manifested in his arts of getting and saving 
money— but they cannot discern that higher range of 
thought which ascended to the purest regions of sci- 
ence, generalization, and truth ; or, the equally exalted, 
and not less salubrious atmosphere of patriotism and 
benevolence. 

The first time that I ever bestowed any particular at- 
tention towards Mr. Girard, was in the year 1816; when 
from the pursuasion of my father I was induced to enter 
his Bank, as a temporary retreat from mercantile mis- 
fortunes. Few men made so bad a first impression upon 
the spectator as Stephen Girard. His person was al- 
together unprepossessing. His humble and vulgar exte- 
rior—his cold, abstracted, and taciturn habits, did not fait 
to excite in the mind of the superficial or transient ob- 
server, who made up his opinion through the medium of 
the eye, a feeling approaching to absolute contempt. 
Resembling a short and square built old sailor, his per- 
son associated ideas the very opposite of every thing 
that tends to inspire respect, or awaken your esteem to- 
wards the man you survey. His wall-eye too, assisted to 
strengthen the prejudice that you conceived against him 
at first sight : and the contrast exhibited between his per- 
son-his habiliments-and his fortune— all contributed to 
complete a picture of the most unamiable and repulsive 
kind, according to the general method of estimating 
men by their outward trappings, and physical proper- 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 141 

ties. Being then young, I of course fell into this falla- 
cious and unjust method of appreciating Mr. Girard. 
For example, the coarse texture and sober tints of his 
garments, which excited my contempt, afforded the 
strongest evidence of his merit, and my folly ; and his 
square, short, and unseemly stature — his large feet — and 
immense strides, will give but a feint idea of the shell 
of a man, whose mind soared to the sublime magnitude 
of heroic virtues and conceptions : and will afford no 
criterion by which to judge of the great qualities which 
d^yelt within him. Even his taciturnity, which proved 
the depth of his reflection, and manifestly denoted that 
he was more prone to think and speculate, than to 
talk, became a source of prejudice against him ; and 
often excited the epithet of "stupid," applied to one 
whose apprehension more resembled that of a god, than 
a man. But even when he broke silence, prejudice was 
still engendered ; for his conversation was so disfigured 
by a strong broken French dialect, as was by no means 
calculated to increase respect — or, in all cases, to re- 
press that inclination for risibility, which is so apt to be 
excited, by this peculiarity of speech. A deficiency 
which cannot but surprise, in one, who had attained to so 
good a style of English composition ; and who could 
read English with all the facility of his vernacular 
tongue. It is the more remarkable too, considering 
the early period at which he quitted France for this 
country ; and the long period during which he must 
have been in the constant habit of hearing in hourly con- 
versation the purest dialect of our language and at- 
tempting to imitate its pronunciation ; a fact that seems 
to imply a physical organization of the parts adverse to 
the attainment of a correct English utterance; or, per- 
haps with more likelihood, an abstraction of the mind to 
other pursuits, which lost sight of a mere accomplish- 
ment, in the superior importance of a useful acquisition. 



142 BIOGRAPHY OF 

For as this was the bent of his mind, and as he both 
read and wrote English with perfect facility and cor- 
rectness, he probably deemed this knowledge sufficient, 
and left his tongue to time and accident, to improve 
its tones and enunciations, as it best might. 

At that time, and even as far back as 1812, he was 
partially deaf in one ear, and the sight of his remaining 
eye began to fail him. I had, at the time alluded to, 
however, but little conversation with him ,• — except such 
brief dialogue as was indispensable to the transaction 
of business, when brought in contact with him ; which 
exciting my surprise was accounted for by my father, who 
observed, that he seldom, or never conversed with any 
person, except on business. With him, however, this 
rule was frequently violated ; for Girard often indulged 
in chit-chat with him $ my father being remarkable for 
blending good nature and facetiousness, with the habit 
of great dispatch in business ; but even towards him, 
this indulgence was extremely limited ; for having 
given himself up to habits of abstraction, and passing 
his life in the midst of active and bustling scenes of 
business, the ideas attached to which terminated in them- 
selves, or resulted in the debit or credit of his profit and 
loss account; he had but few themes for conversation, and 
those he possessed no skill or elegance of pronunciation 
to tempt him to indulge him. Sociability, however, or 
fellowship, was never among his virtues. He spoke 
only upon business, with few exceptions ; and then 
never said more than was necessary to the proper under- 
standing of his subject; no doubt estimating time as 
money; and calculating that he who spoke more words 
than were requisite, was guilty of a prodigality not less 
reprehensible than he who paid more than was asked by 
the seller of a bale of merchandize, or a chest of tea. 

When excited to anger, however, especially among 
his dependents and workmen, his volubility of tongue, 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 145 

though not couched in the most refined language, was 
without a parallel. On these occasions, the free use of 
profane language was perfectly characteristic of the 
man ; manifesting at once the fervor of his mind, the 
violence of his temper, and the arbritrary sway of his 
authority. Mr. Roberjot was, in a peculiar manner, the 
butt of this kind of invective ; and generally bore the 
torrents lavished upon him, with a philosophical pa- 
tience, which fully entitled him to saint ship : for he fre- 
quently had occasion for all the equanimity of Job 
himself, for all crosses, disappointments, blunders, mis- 
takes, and the endless little miseries of counting-house 
life, were to be fathered, as a matter of course, by Mr, 
Roberjot, the friend and factotum of Girard ; alterna- 
tively the substance and the shadow of his employer $ 
and proverbial for his industry, his attention, and his 
fidelity to the complicated concerns of the great mer- 
chant. 

Mr. Roberjot was, both by nature and education, a 
true representative of his nation in genuine politeness ; 
which combined with his admiration for the superior 
genius of his employer, inspired him, on all occasions, 
with the utmost deference towards Mr. Girard, whom 
he looked upon, as did most of those in his employ, as 
a being approaching to the gods. There is something 
in superior genius that rebukes and holds in awe, smaller 
minds, in defiance of all resolutions to the contraryj even 
when backed by the precepts of reason and philosophy. 
It is on these occasions we become struck with a con- 
viction of the fact, that men, intellectually speaking, 
are not all born equal; and that nature has settled her 
laws, that the strongest, even in mind, must govern those 
who are feeble. 

But to compensate for those ebullitions of his temper, 
towards his inferiors, he had the happy art of conciliat- 
ing them by the most fascinating displays of occasional 

n 2 



1 44 BIOGRAPHY 0^ 

good nature | the effect of which was, to impress his 
people around him, with a feeling so devoted, that they 
would have gone, with alacrity and pleasure, to the 
world's end, to serve him, or do his bidding* This was 
but a natural consequence of that relaxation from auste- 
rity, which causes a smile to go twice as far as it does, 
when the giver is prodigal of his good nature. It is, 
besides, the usual recourse of men, who, conscious of 
having offended, feel the necessity of making atonement 
by occasional displays of kindness ; and thus become 
obligated to conciliate, for fear of estranging from their 
person, all who surround them : for no man, however 
abject in spirit, will bear perpetual abuse and oppression^ 
and the most cowardly and timid will sometimes revolt 
from the iron rule of tyranny. 

It was natural, that with such a disposition, he should 
take pleasure in gratifying this tyranny of petty power, 
by selecting for his agents and friends, only those who 
trembled at his frown, or yielded implicit submission to 
his caprice and humours. Indeed, had he not selected 
such, his manners and deportment would soon have pro- 
duced the same result, for the independent would have 
revolted, the spirited turned from him with disgust, 
and honorable and sensitive minds, might have been 
tempted to transgress those limits, that propriety and 
good breeding, as well as delicacy and feeling, have 
erected between the resentments of men of honour, in 
their social intercourse. 

His habits of attending business were extremely re- 
gular in his counting-house, and generally so in the 
bank ; but not always. On discount days, he almost 
invariably entered the bank between nine and eleven, 
during the short days of winter ; and six and nine, dur- 
ing the summer months ; when he immediately proceed- 
ed to business — after despatching which, he would drive 
to his farm in Passyunk ; for which purpose, he would 



STEPHEN GIRARB* \45 

order his horse and chair to the bank at the exact hour 
that he calculated to finish bis business ; and this 
routine of bank business and visiting his farm, he gene- 
rally continued, throughout the whole year, never de- 
terred by the inclemency of the weather, or the badness 
of the roads $ and it was remarkable, up to the latest 
period of his life, with what fearlessness and intrepidity 
he would ascend his chair, and discharging his servant, 
or sitting by his side, would seize the reins, and drive 
on, as if perfect in his sight, and liable to no possible 
obstructions. This visitation to his farm, seemed to 
constitute a sacred part of his duty, or the enjoyment 
of a pleasure from which he could not dispense, without 
self-reproach. But he did not always visit the bank 
previous to his drive into the country 3 for he would 
sometimes surprise his farmer in bed, and be the first 
to start the lark from his roost, to carol his matin song) 
on which occasions he would not fail to bestow the 
severe censure merited by the indolence of the sluggard* 
During the first years of the existence of his bank, his 
visits, except on discount days, could not be calculated 
Upon i but at a later day, as the course of trade induced 
him to abstract more of his capital from commerce* 
the pleasure he took in his banking and financial opera- 
tions appeared to increase, and he then seldom failed 
to inspect his balance sheet every day $ and " bleed" 
some of the debtor banks of their specie — never actuated, 
however, by any spirit of envy or hostility, but ex* 
clusively governed by the broad and fair principle of 
equitable competition \ to keep down the balances due 
him to a sum corresponding to the resources of charac- 
ter of the debtor bank, as well as to check that spirit 
of liberal discounting, which too often extended their 
business beyond the just proportion of their specie re- 
sponsibility, and the ability of their capitals. In this 
respect, not even the Bank of the United States was 



146 BIOGRAPHY OF 

more instrumental in producing a salutary check upon 
the tendency to over-issues in the state institutions, 
tha$ the bank of Stephen Girard. From the pe- 
culiar nature of a private institution like this, the har- 
vest of his business was during a scarcity of money 
in the market $ or a scarcity of specie among the 
banks — a state of things that may well be termed sy- 
nonymous and reciprocal- The reason of this is ob- 
vious. His deposits bore no proportion to his capital $ 
but his specie responsibility, always far exceeded, even 
in a compound ratio, that of other institutions. Hence, 
though his general run of business bore no proportion 
to his capital, owing to the want of that merited and 
separate influence of many directors, which concentrated 
business at the State Banks $ yet, owing to this very cir- 
cumstance, in addition to his having no accommodation 
paper on his books, he was enabled on emergencies in 
the money market, to afford it efficient relief: so that, 
when the State Banks began to curtail, Girard's Bank 
began to extend discounts ; and this he always did to the 
utmost limits of a sound discretion $ with what utility 
to the public is too well known to be described. 

On general principles, no bank conducted in the usual 
manner, can afford relief to the embarrassments of the 
trading community, during a scarcity of money; the 
reason of which is sufficiently obvious. At the time 
the scarcity occurs, the banks have loaned out as much 
as they can safely discount $ and the moment the scarci* 
ty begins, those who have money laying idle in bank, on 
deposit, immediately draw for the amount, so that the 
bank is the first to feel the scarcity, by losing its depo- 
sits, which, of course, deprives them of this resource, 
even if it could, be one ; but of which character they 
had deprived it, by having previously discounted on 
them. To make up for this abstraction, therefore, the 
banks, the moment a pressure commences, are compell- 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 147 

ed to reduce, instead of extend, their discounts; and thus 
become a means of annoyance, instead of relief to the 
public, making scarcity still greater, and increasing the 
general panic, embarrassment, and bankruptcy. 

From this disadvantage of the spurious system of 
banking, the institution of Girard was entirely exempt. 
In the first place, from the small amount of deposits, he 
was never incommoded by their sudden abstraction or 
withdrawal. In the next place, he was free from the 
incubus of accommodation paper; so that the stream 
of active business was never impeded by any of those 
locks, which the perpetual renewal of paper of this de- 
scription, places upon the circulation of capital. A third 
consideration was that he never discounted up to his 
ability ; so that in a time of scarcity, he could unlock 
his vaults, and extend half a million of loans, by draw- 
ing on his specie resources, to ease the pressure of the 
money market ; well aware, that the sooner a malady 
of this kind is cured, the less loss accrues to the bank, 
and the sooner a reaction ensues. 

Yet he never seemed to evince any great anxiety as to 
the small or large amount of applications for discounts. 
If the offerings were limited, he was content to keep his 
surplus funds, and draw specie from the other banks, to 
stock his vaults for emergencies. If they were ample, he 
discounted freely, and paid away the specie he had before 
been employed in gathering. In this respect, he seemed 
to have as much elasticity of mind, as he was distin- 
guished by eccentricity of conduct; and like a true phi- 
losopher, was always prepared for the loss or the profit, 
that happened to him. 

He, no doubt, however, felt acutely on these occasions, 
in proportion to the value which he set upon gain and 
profit ; but he was careful to conceal his feelings ; and 
perhaps no man ever had more command over them, 
than he had, when in the presence of those for whom 



148 BIOGRAPHY OF 



He entertained respect, or felt an awe ; for even Stephen 
Girard, who could inspire others with dread, felt in 
turn, the commanding influence of superior virtue, and 
equal and superior genius. 

So remarkable was this command over his feelings 
and his power, to suppress all external evidence of his 
emotions, that yoi* would suppose him wholly incapable 
of passion, at a moment when he was internally much 
agitated by their violence. Whether this, however, was 
an effort of the mind, or a peculiarity of physical or- 
ganization unfavorable to the expression of his emotions, 
may be doubted : I am inclined to the latter opinion, 
because of that stone-like, dead expression of his coun- 
tenance, when silent ; but still his restraint over his 
tongue, when he was known to be excited, in the pre- 
sence of those of whom he stood in awe, proved that he 
had, at least, some of the virtue of self-controul 

Touching the intermissions of the business of his 
bank, he, no doubt, often affected an indifference the 
very reverse of his feelings : for, it cannot be dissem- 
bled, that for a long period, his method of doing busi- 
ness, on a rigorous abstract principle, without reference 
to the intrinsic credit, and high standing of the parties, 
rendered his "little institution," extremely unpopular; 
so that, when taken in connexion with the jealousy of the 
State Banks, and the influence of their numerous direc- 
tors, exercised in a direct opposition to his banking ope- 
rations, must, at times, have excited his feelings to a 
pitch of mortification and disappointment, which, though 
he might suppress them from finding utterance, yet he 
could not totally exclude from his bosom ; and which 
not to feel with at least some poignancy, when it became 
visible in a diminution of his custom, as often happened, 
would suppose him to be more than mortal. 

This jealousy was palpably expressed in an act of the 
legislature of Pennsylvania, against unlawful banks, in 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 149 

■which all individuals were prohibited from discounting 
notes, as bankers: and which compelled him to alter his 
books from the usual method of banks, deducting the 
discount from the gross amount of the note, to the 
method of loaning, in which full credit was given to the 
customer for the whole amount of the note, and the in- 
terest charged against him, as a check drawn ; by which 
means the silly toils of a law, .whose constitutionality 
might certainly be fairly questioned, were avoided. I 
mention the fact, merely to shew the extent to which 
jealousy of his wealth had gone; and with what deter- 
mined purpose it was operating against a man, who was 
busily engaged in amassing money for these same un- 
grateful heirs — "the public." 

It was not a trait of Girard's character, however, to 
vent his feelings in complaints, when not exasperated to 
anger — he would sometimes storm, but never whine. 
His method was to resort to silent remedies, and not con- 
tent, or solace himself with idle lamentations. He never 
called on " Jupiter $" but applied his shoulders to the 
wheel. He was better able to bear great misfortunes 
than small ones ; and the loss of a ship and cargo valu- 
ed at a hundred and fifty thousand dollars, has been 
known to cause him less visible inquietude, than the loss 
of Jive hundred by the note of a broken merchant. 

Heavy losses of this kind, however, would sometimes 
provoke him to asperity, when he would become irrita- 
ble, and rigorous in exacting settlerrfents. But at other 
times, and where he perceived no trace of intention to 
defraud, he was moderate and accommodating, in 
granting a discharge to an unfortunate debtor. When 
he had reason, however, to suspect concealment of pro- 
perty, he was rigid and unrelenting to the last degree- 
This was a wise determination, for it deterred knaves 
from practising on his fortune. 

Several attempts of this kind are supposed to have 



1 50 BIOGRAPHY OF 

been successfully practised on his Bank, by persons 
who obtained a credit with him to a large amount, in 
virtue of their cash balance, without being sustained by 
that capital, which their deceptive show of business 
seemed to indicate $ under the strange idea, that to de- 
fraud a man so rich ivas scarcely criminal. On these 
occasions, however, the unworthy authors of the fraud, 
never failed to discover that they were practising on a 
man as quick to detect imposition, as he was ready to 
forgive misfortune, and compromise with honesty. 

It is singular how loosely the ideas of property, are 
associated in the minxls of people generally, with the 
obligations to hold it sacred, unless it be acquired by 
industry, or the exchange of equivalents. This remark 
is made, without any desire to ascribe the want of 
honesty to mankind in general ; but to shew how little 
the passion of covetousness is restrained by the obliga- 
tions of justice and honour, from the smallest shopkeeper 
to the most opulent merchant, or the rich banker him- 
self. 

Some cases may no doubt be remembered, which in 
this point, may reflect upon Girard himself $ but this 
can be no palliation, much less justification for any simi- 
lar attempts to obtain his property, by means of circuit- 
ous and indirect management. But however expert 
Girard may have been in the arts and mysteries of 
trade, he was never accused of an open violation of the 
laws of probity, or a daring infraction of the principles 
of equity or honour. 

It was his custom during the spring and summer 
months, to spend an hour or two every morning before 
riding to his farm, in the garden attached to his bank. 
Here he employed himself in pruning his vines, nursing 
his Jig tree, of the fruit of which he was extremely fond 5 
and dressing his shrubs. His passion for pruning was 
excessive; and often found no end but in the total exter- 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 151 

mination of the tree ; especially when he found it obsti- 
nate in growth, or slow in bearing fruit. 

The great object of his life was to produce. He de- 
tested an idle man, and never kept a dollar from circula- 
tion that he could find employment for. If he could 
not invest it in one branch of trade, he gave it a new 
direction ; and thus by keeping it in circulation, made it 
profitable ; for he held to the maxim, that small gains 
are better than none. 

So powerful was this passion for production, that he 
often declared it was ridiculous to plant a tree that would 
not bear fruit. In this, he said, he acted on a principle 
that labour ought always to be rewarded. ' Yet he evi- 
dently overlooked the fact, that a tree may be valua- 
ble for its timber, its shade, or its beauty. It is evi- 
dent, that such a man would have taken pleasure in 
having children, if he could; and this, indeed, he has 
confirmed, by leaving his fortune to the children of 
others. 

On this subject of offspring, a very erroneous idea of 
the character of Girard generally prevails ; which pic- 
tures him as a solitary and morose man, who never 
suffered children to approach him. The reverse of this 
is the truth. He was excessively fond of the society of 
children; as all men of high toned and arbitrary tempers 
generally are observed to be. Nothing pleased him so 
much as to have one of these little prattlers waiting on 
him ; for he always made it a point to keep them em- 
ployed in something useful. Yet had his own daughter, 
Mary Girard lived, there is no reason to believe that he 
would ever have acted the part of a doating and fond 
father, leaving her sole heiress of his immense estate. 
He would have no doubt treated her with affection ; but 
never have given way to a weakness ; and at his death, 
left her with a legacy of ten thousand dollars; or an 
annuity of three hundred per annum. 

O 



152 BIOGRAPHY OF 

When his nephews arrived from France, engaging 
boys of twelve and fourteen, he is known to have felt, and 
expressed much satisfaction, and very ardent affection 
for them. But he appeared afraid to cherish it ; and 
hastily despatched them off to school, lest he might con- 
tract the habit of spoiling them by undue indulgence. 

His friendship towards his brother Etienne, in France, 
the father of these boys, was exemplary ; and manifested 
a heart open to the best affections of our nature. He 
succoured him from a prison ; relieved his wants ; 
discharged his debts; and settled him comfortably as a 
vintner in the neighbourhood of Bordeaux. He has 
confirmed his affection for him by several legacies to 
him and his children ; but what was a singalur lapse 
of memory in Girard, he forgot the two youngest chil- 
dren entirely, whose names he has omitted to mention. 

It was not until a few weeks previous to the demise 
of my father, which occurred in December, 1822, that 
I became intimate with Mr. Girard. In the preceding 
month of November, my father perceiving himself una- 
ble to attend to the business of the bank, but particularly, 
to undergo the labour of discounting, requested me to 
take his place ; after having for a week, or more, as- 
sisted him in the performance of that duty. At this 
period, the hearing of Mr. Girard had become so much 
impaired, as to require a high pitch of the voice to make 
him sensible of the sound. The sight of his remaining eye, 
too, had become extremely imperfect, so that he could 
with difficulty read a legible and plain hand-writing. His 
countenance was perfectly pallid, totally devoid of ani- 
mation, and the very picture of abstraction itself; being 
square, full, muscular, and deeply indented with the lines 
of thought, even to his expansive and capacious fore- 
head, which indicated remarkable research, meditation, 
and capacity. When he spoke, however, a smile played 
round his mouth, which gave to his face a very agreea- 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 153 

ble expression, and indicated a strong original propen- 
sity to harmony and fellowship. Even at that age, 
there shone in his remaining eye, a peculiar lustre, 
which told of deep passion, sagacious observation, and 
quick conception. Without the lustre of this eye, you 
would have imagined the bust of some antique sage to 
have stood before you $ but the twinkling and sparkling 
of that eye, I shall never forget — sometimes playful, and 
even sarcastic in its glance — always cunning; but at 
other times, and most generally, stern, fixed, and 
thoughtful 5 rather seeking the ground, than steadily 
meeting your opposing look. His mouth, when not 
relaxed by an insinuating smile, expressed unalterable 
determination, or what in the common affairs of life, 
would be termed obstinacy. His high cheek-bones, 
arid breadth of face, gave indication of that singular 
expression of head, which bespoke the extraordinary 
character of the man. Increasing age had given him 
a slight, and almost imperceptible palsied tremor of the 
head $ which added to his bald crown, and his queque, 
with here and there a few scattered grey hairs, gave 
him, when uncovered, an imposing air of veneration. 
You felt an involuntary sensation of respect and reve- 
rence for his age$ and would have concluded, that this 
physical approach to the leafless era of life, was attend- 
ed by a corresponding fading, and withering of the ener- 
gies of the man ; though at that period, his body was not 
shrunk in size, or impaired in vigour, but square, robust, 
and thick-set, as in the hey-day of his life. 

Such was the appearance of Stephen Girard in the 
winter of 1822, when in his 73d year. At that time, he 
had experienced no diminution of his constitutional 
strength, and had been attacked by no obvious and se- 
rious malady. He still indulged in his wonted exer- 
cises, and remitted not a jot from his accustomed and 
severe labour $ having adopted it as a maxim, never to 



154 SIOGRAPHY Of 

anticipate the inroads, or invite the dilapidations of agg, 
by abating any of his customary habits. He said, it was 
time enough to give up, when nature summoned him to 
surrender \ and as for death, why, when it came, it 
would find him busy, if he was able to stand upon his 
feet, or not wrapt in his slumbers. 

He held it to be a weakness almost criminal, to give 
over labour, because a man was advancing in years, so 
long as he retained health and strength. Industry* he 
maintained, had no respect for times, seasons, or years j 
and it was the duty of every man, to be useful to society 
through all stages of existence $ the plea of age being 
but the pretext of idleness $ and the repose of a spirit 
which sought excuses for the non-performances of im- 
perative duties. 

This was no theory with Mr. Girard. He practised 
on every principle that he ever preached ; and he took 
care never to preach until he had practised. At the 
age of 73, however, it must be considered no common 
evidence of virtue and philosophy, to find him the prac- 
tical advocate of doctrines, that even vigorous manhood 
will start from, as too onerous for voluntary perfor- 
mance. 

It is a great error to imagine that the love of industry 
is not a virtue. It is one of the highest in the social 
catalogue ; for indolence seems so natural to man, that 
it requires the utmost effort to shake off its torpid in- 
fluence. 

For what do we labour in youth and middle life ? To 
enjoy, what we erroneously term, ease in our old days. 
The ease of idleness 5 that most pernicious of all the fal- 
lacious conditions of human existence; for when we 
arrive at the desired state of fancied enjoyment, the 
doing of nothing, we become miserable ; and too often 
fall a prey to those vices, even, in our latter end, which 
always hover over the path of the idle man. 



Stephen girard. 155 

It was in this light that Girard viewed this fallacious 
and pernicious idea; and resolved never to be idle, 
while he had power to move a limb, or exert a muscle. 

There was not only virtue in this resolution of the old 
banker, but novelty and invention. It was an original 
idea; and could only have had birth from those deep 
philosophical reflections, to which he had accustomed 
himself. 

A man of a common mould of mind, would have gone 
on in the beaten track, under the common impression $ 
and according to custom, would have retired to an easy 
chair by the fire-side, to die out, in pursuance of a fool* 
ish custom ; there to become a hypochondriac, resorting 
to the bottle for amusement, and finally falling a victim 
to that vice which is always the companion of idleness. 

By what mysterious principle it prevails, may baffle 
philosophy to explain, but the fact is too fully esta* 
blished, to be denied or refuted, that the soul's lustre 
outlives that of the body | and while the outward frame 
of humanity seems often sinking into decay* the immor* 
tal intellect beams with undimmed effulgence. So it 
was with Girard at the period alluded tOi His great 
spirit was undiminished, and his passions* even then, 
were fervid and untamed. He had not at the period 
alluded to* wholly conquered that high and boisterous 
temper, which made him the terror of his menials, when 
they had offended him by neglect of duty, or remissness 
of labour. Having occasionally seen him in this mood 
of tempestuous anger, with the workmen he employed, 
I. can avouch to its unhappy extent with sincere feelings 
of regret. For by this time, I had learned to appreciate 
Mr. Girard on the rational scale of preferring the worth 
of the inward^ to the unmanly trappings of the outward 
man ; and though I could not sincerely yield him my 
esteem, I could not refuse him, what all bestowed, my 
admiration. I treated him, however, with all that re- 

o 2 



156 BIOGRAPHY Of 

spect which became his age; and he deported himself to* 
wards me with an air of friendship and perfect politeness. 
We never had any serious difference or warm contention ; 
and if we were not ardent friends, we never became, in 
any manner* enemies in feelingi During his life* his 
peculiar habits enveloped his character in a mist 3 and 
it was his death only, which by disclosing his real 
genius and philanthropy, through the tenor of his Will, 
revealed to me the true extent of his greatness, and ex- 
torted the tribute of unqualified esteem for his many 
virtues, and his extraordinary and singular genius. 

It may be doubted, if even at the present time, the 
singular character of Stephen Girard, can be justly ap- 
preciated* He has lived at least a century in advance 
of mankind ; and to be judged with impartiality, must 
be handed over to a future age. But time will augment, 
not diminish, the lustre of his fame. Like Lord Bacon, 
he must be appreciated by his successors, and submit 
to be stigmatised by his cotemporaries. It is the 
price which genius pays for outstripping the human 
race in intellect. 

Let me be understood on this head : I nfean that ex- 
tensive and liberal view of the relations and structure of 
society, which distinguished Girard; and not any colossal 
magnitude of his conceptions $ but a kind of anticipation 
of a state of society that was to come, in fifty or a hun- 
dred years hence. Such, for example, as the regula- 
tions of his college, his improvements, as projected, of 
the city, and his plans for internal communication to 
the coal and timber regions of the interior : all indicat- 
ing a mind fashioned on the highest scale, and looking 
through the vista of time into generations yet uncreated. 

It was some time in November, 1822, during the ill- 
ness of my father, and whilst I was officiating in his 
place, that at the request of a bookseller, and several 
friends, I was induced to request Mi\ Girard to commu-< 



STEPHEN GIRA&D. 15Y 

iiicate to me the particulars of his life, for the purpose 
of composing his biography at that time $ or, if he pre- 
ferred it, I would defer the publication to a future period. 
I stated the object distinctly to be two*fold— first, to sa- 
tisfy public curiosity— -and second, to make a profit by 
the sale of the book. He listened to the request with 
much complacency and good nature* while a smile of 
self-satisfaction, which he evidently could not suppress, 
stole across his mouth, as if imagination was holding 
dalliance with his ambition, upon the subject of his 
future fame. His reply was unequivocal and decisive, 
and I have now a perfect recollection of his words and 
manner, for both were deeply engraven on my memory $ 
it was this : — 4{ I have nothing to tell, Mr. Simpson, 
worth writing about. What should people want to know 
of me ? My actions must make my life. What I do, is 
enough for people to know — and when I am dead, my 
conduct will speak for me." I here repeated the re- 
quest, accompanied by such arguments as I thought 
would induce his compliance, that he had excited public 
curiosity, and that his fame was at stake—to which he 
responded — 4 'I am sorry that I cannot do it* Mr. Simp- 
son, as you desire it so much, but I have made up my 
mind to tell nobody of my life — adding, with a smile, as 
if to soften his refusal, and expressive of his conscious 
immortality — "you will see what I do, Mr. Simpson, 
and you can write my life then," — shaking his head, 
and attempting to cut short the current of the conver- 
sation. 

Immediately after he had left me, I communicated 
the tenor of this conversation to Joseph Roberts, Esq. 
at that time the first teller of his bank. 

The correctness of the sentiment, and the sound phi- 
losophy of the republican principle, on which he ground- 
ed this refusal ; to impart frivolous incidents, to be dress- 
ed up into historical importance* cannot be too highly 



tM BIO&RAPHt Of 

extolled. lie simply, but truly maintained, that actions 
make the man; and that, without noble and laudable 
deeds, no man, however rich or eminent in other par- 
ticulars, ought to have his life written : that vanity only 
would search into pedigrees^ and labour to attach spuri- 
ous importance to an individual, on account of the ex- 
traneous virtues of his forefathers, or the supposed no- 
bility of their Norman blood. The refusal and the sen- 
timent, were every way worthy of the founder of his own 
immortality, and the architect of his own fortune. It was 
the observation of a man, who had studied philosophy, 
as well as human nature, and the living world j and 
proves that Stephen Girard had penetrated into the 
most hidden and profound relations of human beings, as 
connected with the social fabric. 

At what period he commenced his " diary, " alleged 
to be in existence by Doctor Clarke, a gentleman who 
married one of his nieces, I have not been able to learn $ 
but there is so evident a contradiction between the sen- 
timents he expressed to me, and the fact of his keeping 
a diary of his life, that it seems difficult to reconcile 
them. It may have been, that he designed this journal 
merely for his own satisfaction, without reference to 
publicity $ and that as a mere detail of trifling and un- 
important occurrences, it possesses little or no interest 
to the public $ though such a document, one would ima- 
gine, could hardly fail to elucidate and throw light upon 
his character. 

This it might possibly do, to an extent not altogether 
desirable, by revealing more than would benefit the pub- 
lic, or enhance his own reputation. Byron's journal) 
through the malice or indiscretion of his friend Moore, 
has proved of greater detriment to his fame, than the 
combined malice of all his enemies; and has infected 
society with an example more dangerous to its morals, 
than all the fancied scoundrels that the poet ever drew* 






STEPftEN GlUARD. 159 

There is a happy medium in the history of a man's 
life, at which to stop, without violating truth on the one 
hand, or doing injustice to character, on the other; for 
there are certain vices or passions common to all men. 
in greater or less degree, which it is better to leave to 
imagination, or take them for granted, than to describe 
their limits, or portray their excesses. Had Byron's 
journal been consigned to the flames, there would still 
have been left enough evidence of his amatory fervour. 
The principle of analogy will extend to all biographers. 
It is better to suppress a little, than to disclose too much. 
No man is infallible $ and hence, no exception can be 
taken to the rule. 

Pope had expressed the same axiom in opposite terms. 

u What can ennoble fools, or pimps, or cowards ? 
Alas! not all the blood of all the Howards!" 

Whilst thus connected with Mr. Girard, there were 
few subjects upon which I did not endeavour, with much 
success in general, to elicit his opinions ; but not always 
1 in a manner so satisfactory as might be desired. Know- 
ing him to be a sound republican, I felt a curiosity to 
ascertain his opinions upon the most eminent men, and 
most momentous measures of the republic. Having 
myself disapproved of the embargo, and the manner of 
1 waging the war, I attempted to elicit his opinions upon 
I those measures, expecting that as he had been a gre^t 
sufferer by both, he would naturally condemn them. 
But here I was disappointed. The embargo, he said, 
was necessary, to save our commerce — and the war, 
though a great evil, could not be avoided. Government, 
he observed, must be supported in what they do $ that 
they act for the good of the whole country, and individu- 
als have no right to complain ; for they had delegated 
their powers to representatives, and were bound to ac- 
quiesce in the acts of their agent. As it respected the 



1 60 BIOGRAPHY OF 

manner of conducting the war, he ascribed all the cen- 
sure to those who had been instrumental in destroying 
the Bank of the United States, which had produced a 
spurious currency, and finally destroyed the public cre- 
dit ; by the forfeiture of public confidence. The want 
of money, he said, was every thing \ there could be no 
victory, no war, without money. Soldiers and generals, 
he considered as of secondary importance ; observing 
that they could be created by money, and by money only. 
This, in the opinion of Mr. Girard, was every thing in 
government, as well as in life. 

Every thing, he observed, was done by money. When 
you had that, you could command every thing, soldiers, 
generals, and victories, even to empires and power : 
and without money, what was a country in peace or in 
war? To get money, not only must the people be in- 
dustrious, but the government must be industrious and 
economical. The art of finance was as necessary to 
those who governed, as industry was to those who pro- 
duced the wealth of a country. That Gallatin knew no- 
thing but finance, and ought to have been kept in office, 
not sent to Europe, where he was lost $ for he knew 
very little of politics, or diplomacy j but could husband 
the credit of a nation with much skill, and manage its 
treasury with prudence, foresight, and economy. That 
the administration, with the exception of Mr. Madison, 
was a very poor one $ unfit for the emergency, and 
hardly competent to manage the wheels of government 
in time of profound peace and an overflowing treasury. 

Towards the ex-president, John Adams, then living, 
he expressed a high veneration $ and was not less strong- 
ly devoted in respect and attachment to his illustrious 
son, John Quincy Adams, for whose talents and patriot- 
ism, he expressed unbounded admiration : but he ap- 
peared to admire these distinguished men, chiefly on 
account of their being of a family who had done great 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 1 6 I 

services to their country : a great family, and an old one, 
he added, which had been long known to the nation. 
Next to old John Adams, he entertained the highest 
opinion of Thomas Jefferson ; but for third and fourth 
rate politicians, he felt the most supreme contempt — 
unless actually in the commission of public office; 
towards whom, in all their gradations, he always che- 
rished and manifested the most profound respect ; for 
no man was more sensibly alive to all the duties of a 
good citizen. At all stages of his life, the public good 
was his main object, next to his own interest ; and 
having secured the latter, he immediately directed all 
his attention to the first. 

It was a singular anomaly in the republican charac- 
ter, and plain habits of unostentatious life, in Girard, 
that he should feel and profess a veneration for ancient 
families, very often without regard to their virtues and 
merits. This in a man, who was the father and founder 
of his own name, a Novus Homo, was rather a singular 
trait in his very singular mind; but it shews, that with 
all his wealth, he felt he wanted something to exalt him 
to that moral dignity and scale of influence in society, 
which even money, piled mountain high, cannot always 
command : and that something was, family consideration. 
It is in vain to argue on the weakness of the human heart. 
We all long to possess what w r e behold placed out of 
our reach; and we all become dissatisfied with what we 
have in enjoyment. The new man idolizes family dis- 
tinction; and the heir of a pedigree deems himself 
nothing, without the possession of wealth, or the attain- 
ment of power. 

But this is not a mere prejudice, which leads us to 
look up with respect to distinguished families. It im- 
plies the possession of merit, genius, or virtue, in our 
ancestors, sufficient to procure them distinction ; and 



162 BIOGRAPHY OF 

he who would not look back with profound veneration 
to the virtues of his fathers, could hardly be endowed 
with qualities calculated to excite the reverence of his 
own descendants. Let no man affect to scorn the great- 
ness of old families ; for although mere pedigrees are bau- 
bles, yet where distinction has been obtained, merit 
was originally the foundation of their geatness, though 
subsequently tarnished by an offspring of blockheads. 
It was, in this respect, a fortunate circumstance for 
Girard, that he has left no progeny to sink into degen- 
erate sloth, or drivel into mental idiocy $ for he now 
lives to immortality, the first and the last of his race — 
beyond the power of fortune, to bring shame on his es- 
cutcheon, or a blot upon his name. 

It has been generally supposed and believed, that 
Stephen Girard was no politician \ nor was he in the 
factious sense of the word; but he was a politician, in the 
best sense of the term. Although he silently deposited 
his vote in the ballot boxes ; yet he never refused to 
stand a candidate for the city councils, when placed 
in nomination; and for several years he added this to 
his other numerous duties ; and no man ever made a 
more faithful public servant. As it respected public 
men and national policy, his feelings were ardent and 
his views generally correct. And if he did not dis- 
course obtrusively upon public topics, it was because 
he deemed it an interference in the duties of others, not 
because he had failed to form a sound opinion upon the 
prevailing political measures of the day, the contests of 
parties, and the rivalry of candidates. He was an 
observer of the struggle, however, rather than a partici- 
pator ; he said nothing, and took no part in the turmoil. 
Yet always ready to avail himself of every commer- 
cial advantage that arose from the actions of the politi- 
cal world, as well as the first to contribute bountifully 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 163 

towards every public improvement, that promised to 
advance the prosperity of the state, or the interest of 
the Union. 

He was among the first to discern the importance of 
the system of internal improvement, to the wealth, 
trade, and commerce of Philadelphia ; and the first to 
contribute his capital and lend his example, to stimu- 
late others to follow in the same path. Girard was a 
political economist of the best school ; he was a practical 
one ; and this is a school that silences all theory, and 
prostrates the most subtle refinement of sophistry and 
metaphysics. Were all the schools of theorists to meet 
on the ground of practice, they would neither find time 
nor room to differ. 

Mr. Girard was among the first to furnish efficient 
pecuniary aid towards the prosecution of that noble im- 
provement, the navigation of the Schuylkill ; for which 
he subscribed 2200 shares, at 50 dollars each ; making 
an aggregate of 110,000 dollars. At a subsequent pe- 
riod, in 1823, he loaned the same company, out of his 
bank, 265,850 dollars. 

His cashier, George Simpson, died in December, 
1822. On this occasion, I acquired a personal know- 
ledge of that total destitution of sympathy, feeling, and 
refinement, which was peculiar to the organization of Mr. 
Girard. He treated this incident with an indifference ra- 
ther bordering on levity | and for a time excited my lace- 
rated feelings to exasperation against him. He sent for 
i me the next morning. I saw him, and apprised him that 
the state of my mind would not allow me to transact busi- 
ness. He replied — " Your father, Mr. Simpson, was an 
old man, and old men must die. It is nothing uncom- 
mon. When one man dies we must find others to do 
the business. The bank must not stop because one man 
dies." If this was his mode of offering condolence, it 
was one not less rough than awkward and inhuman. 

I 



164 BIOGRAPHY OF 

It was evident to me at that time, that he placed 
no more estimate upon men, than upon so many ma- 
chines or instruments, by which to acquire moneys 
which he could throw by, at any moment, without any 
feeling of regret, or any expression of sentiment. 

Upon the demise of his first cashier, George Simpson, 
he appointed his first teller, Joseph Roberts, Esq., to 
that office. At this period, he entertained the idea of 
making his bank perpetual $ for he offered me the situa- 
tion of first teller — observing, 4< after Mr. Roberts, Mr. 
Simpson, you shall be my cashier." But having a dis- 
taste for the detail and business of banking, I gave my 
attention to other objects. I never believed that Mr. 
Girard could accomplish his object, of making a perpe- 
tual trusteeship for his bank ; and he no doubt abandoned 
the project the moment he attempted its execution. His 
intention of perpetuating his name, by means of his 
wealth, was no doubt coeval with its acquisition $ but 
the constant utility of his bank to the public, to the 
state, and to the Union, was in itself, sufficient to insure 
an immortality. 

On this occasion all the effects of the bank under- 
went a formal scrutiny and investigation. The bank 
notes were all counted — the gold weighed, and every 
thing examined. In the weighing of the gold, he seemed 
to take peculiar pleasure ; the smile about his mouth 
doubled, and the glance of his eye sparkled with addi- 
tional and unsurpassing lustre. Dollar by dollar, was 
counted out before him ; for he attended in person this 
laborious examination ; and never remitted his attention, 
until all was pronounced right, and a formal entry made 
of the same, in the ledger of the bank. 

When, in 1829, the credit of the state was shaken 
from the extremities to the centre, by the ill-judged, 
prodigal, and improvident expenditures of the public 
money, in prosecuting the great system of our internal 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 165 

improvement: when bankruptcy stared the common- 
wealth in the face, and embarrassed every movement of 
the government, so much as to induce the Governor to 
convene an extra session of the Legislature ; and com- 
pelled him to visit Philadelphia for the purpose of raising 
temporary loans to replenish the coffers of the state, 
and prevent the suspension of the public works — Mr. 
Girard stepped forward with his wonted public spirit 
and patriotism, and furnished from his bank, a loan of 
one hundred thousand dollars. When it is considered 
that there was no law to authorize this loans that it was 
taken up on the personal credit of the state executive, 
and was merely an act of public spirit to meet a great 
public exigency, it must be allowed to possess some- 
thing beyond the negative merit of a fiscal speculation ; 
and to have conferred essential service upon the com- 
monwealth. 

In this manner i& the character of Stephen Girard il- 
lustrated by his actions, in the most unequivocal and 
imposing light, leaving no room to doubt his patriotism, 
or question his public spirit: and still less, to remain 
insensible of that intrinsic greatness of mind which 
thoughout his long career, marked the extraordinary 
character of the man. 

Unlike most men who love money, Girard was not 
distrustful or suspicious, but had the utmost faith and 
confidence in all who deserved it. In public bodies, and 
governments especially, he reposed implicit reliance. At 
the period that he made this spontaneous loan to go- 
vernor Shulze, of one hundred thousand dollars, the 
state was in a condition of bankruptcy, not dissimilar to 
that of the United States, when he subscribed for the 
Jive million loan. The last cent of its credit, as well as 
its resources, had been expended. The public works 
stood still : The interest on the state loans remained un- 
paid $ and the stock fell to a minimum, corresponding 



166 BIOGRAPHY OF 

to the low ebb of our credit, and the total vacancy of the 
state treasury. 

It was at such a time, that Girard contributed to up- 
hold the system of our internal improvements, and sus- 
tain the public credit from total dissolution — when others 
would not, on account of the panic and alarm that over- 
spread the public mind. 

This confidence extended to individuals $ he never 
required securities from the officers of his Bank; but de- 
pended on their honour and honesty, for the safety of his 
funds i and this confidence reposed in them was never 
violated but once ; and then to an inconsiderable amount^ 
by a man radically vicious, base, and depraved. 

His subscription to the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal, 
besides temporary loans, which he made to the compa- 
ny from his bank, evince that ardent flow of public 
spirit, which at all times actuated him to become instru- 
mental in the great public improvements of the day $ 
and which manifested a degree of intelligence, a variety 
of information, and a mass of knowledge, rarely wit- 
nessed in the mercantile class. 

There were few subjects, indeed, upon which he had 
not thought, and reflected ; and nothing occurred that 
escaped his attention. He was never to be taken by 
surprise, in any projected improvement or novel topic. 
When he first established his bank, my father often ex- 
pressed his astonishment at Mr. Girard's readiness upon 
questions and subjects, which no one would have ima- 
gined he had ever studied — adding, tC he is a very singu- 
lar and extraordinary man." The same remark was 
generally made of him, by all who had occasion to trans- 
act business with him. 

Such was the penetrating spirit of the man, who 
would sometimes sacrifice even his capital to the public 
interest, and devise means of relieving the pressure on 
the money market, that would occur to but few, and 



STEPHEN GIRAR0. 167 

which no other was willing to put in practice. Even 
so late as the latter part of the year 1831, when 
the drain of the precious metals from the country had 
began to excite deep and extensive alarm — and had 
caused the banks to restrict their issues, beyond the 
ability of the mercantile community to bear the pres- 
sure ; and when bills on England had risen to twelve 
and fourteen per cent, premium — Girard penetrating 
at once to the cause, determined to strike at the evil at 
its roots. He saw at a glance that the balance of trade 
was against the country, and that to reduce the price of 
sterling bills was the only way to arrest the exportation 
of specie. This could only be done at a great sacrifice ; 
but it was an object of deep concernment to the country, 
and he resolved to make it. He accordingly drew bills 
on Baring, Brothers 8c Co. without delay, for twelve 
thousand pounds sterling, which he disposed of to the 
Bank of the United States at ten per cent, advance ; 
having previously ascertained that they would not pur- 
chase a larger amount. Not satisfied with this, how- 
ever, he sounded other sections of the bill market, and fol- 
lowed it up by a second sale of ten thousand pounds more, 
to private dealers : when exchange falling, the demand 
for specie gradually remitted, and the money market 
became less convulsed and contracted, under the pres- 
sure of the metals. Thus it has ever been since its es- 
tablishment, that in every great crisis of the country, 
the state, or the general government, the bank of Ste- 
phen Girard has always been instrumental in averting 
public distress, and dispensing public benefits of almost 
inappreciable value and extent. 

The same causes that led him to institute his bank, 
also prompted him to become the improver of the city, 
by devoting a part of his capital, and much of his at- 
tention, to embellish and beautify it by the erection of 
dwellings and stores. It is a singular feature in the cha- 

p 2 



168 Sio6HAi>tiir ctf 

racter of Girard, that he combines most of the qualities 
and virtues that ennobled the most accomplished princes 
of ancient and modern Italy. For like Publicola, he 
would have improved the city, though he had been 
compelled by the nature of the improvement, to tear 
down his own house, to accomplish it ; and like the 
Medici in Florence* he has entwined his name forever 
with that of Philadelphia ; whilst his bank will always 
recall to mind, the origin of the system, as well as the 
opulence and prosperity of the commerce of Genoa. 

True, Girard does not present an exact parrallel to the 
Medici of Florence, in every thing $ but in his public 
spirit he was not inferior to them 3 while in his benevo* 
lence and efforts to improve the minds of posterity, he 
is far their superior. The Medici did little or nothing, 
for the cause of public education ; an idea as adverse to 
the spirit of that age, as would have been toleration in 
religion, or free speculations in philosophy. Although 
the patrons and revivers of literature, and the fine arts, 
they had never conceived the monstrous paradox of know* 
ledge breaking open the cells of monasteries, to enlighten 
and inflame the minds of the great mass of mankind. 

It must be admitted, and I regret the fact, that Girard 
was neither a patron of literature, nor of the fine arts $ 
which, to complete the great outlines of his character* 
he ought to have been. This deficiency, however, is not 
to be ascribed to his insensibility of their importance, 
or the want of a just taste to appreciate their beauties. 
We know, from his admiration of Voltaire and the 
French writers of his age, that he was not insensible to 
the charms of taste and letters. That he did not take an 
active part* therefore, in promoting their advancement, 
is rather to be referred to that potent habit of practical 
usefulness, in the occupations of business, for which he 
was so remarkable, than to any actual distaste that he en- 
tertained for literary pursuits. Had he been able, at any 



STEPHEN GlRAfcB* 169 

period, to retire from the bustling transactions of com- 
merce, he would, no doubt, have become a patron of 
literature — a connoiseur of the fine arts— and a cham- 
pion of classical education. 

The talents of Girard were not only great, but versa- 
tile and comprehensive. Variety of pursuits formed 
one of the most extraordinary features of this singular 
man's character, as if he had been made for all sorts 
of business, and could make all trades yield an increase 
to his fortune. We have seen him start as a cabin boy* 
then a sailor, then become mate, and afterwards captain 
and supercargo of a ship. At one time, commission 
merchant and ship broker — after that we behold him 
in the occupation of a bottler — we then see him keeping 
a country store ', from which he turns to merchandize, 
and becomes lease landlord for stores and dwellings. All 
these changes not only show the great genius of the 
man for business, but they likewise prove, that he did 
not, at first, find it so easy to make money, as people 
sometimes imagine, when they picture to their imagi- 
nations, that the rich obtain it by a wish. 

Nothing is so deceptive as this idea, and nothing so 
pernicious. There is no sure way of getting money but 
by industry $ and no way of keeping it, so as to grow 
rich, but by economy. The foundation of great fortunes, 
are all to be traced to small beginnings, small profits , 
and frugal expenditures. The man who desires to grow 
rich, must never wait to acquire large sums, before he 
begins to save. It is the economy of small expenses*, 
that lays the corner stone of wealth* Large amounts 
always take care of themselves \ it is the small dribbles 
that waste the substance, and keep men poor, if they are 
not careful to restrain their outgoings. One of our most 
opulent merchants now living, declared to me that he 
made his fortune by gaining and saving five-penny-bits! 
The philosopher's stone is not a fiction* He who 



70 BtOGRAPttY Of 

labours with industry, and lives with economy, will sodff 
find it at the bottom of the crucible of life, to reward 
his toil, and compensate him for his virtue. 

It is obvious, that Girard was a long time feeling 
about him without finding the exact ground upon which 
nature intended him to stand ; and from which he was 
destined to rise to pre-eminence* But he was persever- 
ing and industrious; and being determined to find his own 
ground, he eventually succeeded \ after passing through 
all that variety of pursuits i which proved at once his 
inventive powers of mind*, and deep energy of character. 
If one occupation miscarried, with that versatility so pe- 
culiar to his countrymen, he tried another, until he found 
the right one* This change of business has given rise 
to a story, that he was at one time engaged in the ma- 
nufacture of hair powder, as a partner of Boldasky fy Co., 
who in 1785-6-7, carried on that trade near Germantown. 
But whether Mr. Girard had a concern in the establish- 
ment, I do not know $ but I have seen Boldasky^s books, 
in which large accounts with Stephen and John Girard, 
for hair powder, are kept 5 and which they purchased 
for exportation to St. Domingo, and the southern 
markets. It is certain, however, that Girard left no- 
thing untried, by which to make his fortune; and it 
would, therefore, have been strange, had he not succeed- 
ed $ for it is in this way, that daring and adventurous 
spirits at last take fortune captive, in spite of her freaks 
and her flights. Such men as Girard, follow in the 
chase till they overtake her, and never tire even when 
they have her, bound hand and foot in their grasp. 
Satiety, too, and a thirst for novel pursuits, becomes a 
peculiar trait of these ever excitable natures. Even the 
occupation of a merchant, at length began to lose some 
of its charms for Girard, and failed to satisfy that bound- 
less craving of his mind, which is so peculiar a faculty 
of genius : and we behold him turn banker! by which 



• STEPHEN GIRARD. 171 

profit was sacrificed to fame, and the love of money 
overcome by the love of renown. At last, even his 
bank fails to yield him full satisfaction ; and he becomes 
a great builder ! filling up streets, and skirting whole 
squares with his mansions, his palaces, and his stores : 
careful to learn something as he went along, of the arts 
of these several professions, from the construction of a 
ship to the building of a palace, down to the setting of 
a curb-stone, the paving of a street, or the erection of a 
wharf $ not forgetting that he was one of the first farmers, 
graziers, and butchers of the state. Mr. Raguet relates 
a story of his going to him on business, and being refus- 
ed to his presence, because he was cutting up his hogs 
for his winter provisions. But this was small game for 
Girard $ for when he assisted to butcher on his farm, 
Jifty oxen at a time sometimes smoked beneath his 
knife ; or he slew a whole hetacomb, glorying, like a 
modern hero in the gore around him. When we add 
to all this, his skill and knowledge of horticulture, his 
taste for planting and gardening, that he was also an 
excellent nurse, and prided himself on his skill as a 
doctor*, perhaps few men have ever lived, who could be 
quoted as his equal, or superior, for the variety as well 
as excellence and skill of his pursuits. Nor was he 
wanting in taste for the fine arts ; several beautiful spe- 
cimens of which embellish the drawing-room of his 
house in Water street. 

Nothing is so difficult as to fix the limits of a mind 
inflamed by genius, or directed by eccentricity ; and 
such was that of Mr. Girard. He entertained, incul- 
cated, and acted on the principle, that a man could, and 
ought to apply himself to any thing ; and he conse- 
quently, always had a contemptible opinion of those 
who could excel but in one pursuit ; which he thought 
an infallible symptom of dulness. Nor was he wrong, 
or singular in this idea $ but still, it will not apply to 



174 BIOGRAPHY OF 

extortionate value affixed to it, on account of the wealth 
of the would-be purchaser. Finally, however, he suc- 
ceeded in the purchase ; filled up the tan-yard $ erected 
handsome brick mansions on the scite of the old sheds, 
and procured the regulation of the street in front — being 
altogether one of the noblest improvements that have 
been made in the old part of the city for many years. 

In its progress this improvement naturally gave birth 
to another ; for Mr. Girard never did things by halves, 
or failed to detect and remedy any want of congruity, 
so that he immediately perceived that the new regulation 
of the street, would require the readjustment of the steps 
of the portico of his banking-house ; which he caused to 
be totally demolished, then reset, and the pillars of the 
portico as well as the whole front of the building, cleans- 
ed to their original brightness, at an expense of many 
thousands of dollars ; and for the single object of adding 
beauty and embellishment to the city. This improve- 
ment attracted universal attention 5 and the rich Corin- 
thian style of the architecture was now displayed to 
full effect. 

Nothing is more common, than to hear the improve- 
ments, as well as embellishments whicB Girard made to 
the city disparaged, under the allegation, that he made 
them for his own interest; and is, therefore, entitled to 
no praise for their merit. It would be difficult, however, 
to show, how his interest was promoted by an expendi- 
ture of money, which brought him no return ; and which 
he finally bequeathed to the city for its advantage and 
benefit. Acting merely as the steward of his great for- 
tune, he applied his riches with the same care and judg- 
ment, as if he had been specially employed by the cor- 
poration, as their agent, with discretion to act according 
to the dictates of his own taste and intelligence. In the 
discharge of such a trust, executing it with so much 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 175 

liberality and taste, surely one of the last charges that 
could be brought to impeach his motives, would be that 
of self-interest. 

An improvement of a similar character, and not of 
less importance to the health and beauty of the city, he 
accomplished a few years before, in Second below Spruce 
street, where he erected a range of stores and dwellings, 
causing the street to be regulated in the same manner j 
which before was a depository of filth and waste water. 
An incident occurred, during the building of these 
houses, which illustrates in so striking a manner the 
great attachment he bore to the city, that I cannot for- 
bear to mention it. A lamp-post that had obstructed 
the progress of his buildings, had been temporarily re* 
moved to the opposite side of the street When his 
houses were finished, the inhabitants of the neighbour- 
hood requested that it might be replaced ; which was 
accordingly done. The expense of this removal was 
fifty cents, which the board of commissioners charged 
to Mr. Girard, and sent in a bill for its collection. But 
he very properly refused to pay the bill,^ alleging that 
his buildings were for the improvement of the city, and 
not for his individual profit $ which was too small to be 
an inducement for investing his capital in this manner. 
His best houses, he observed, did not bring him more 
than three per cent, interest $ but he built for the bene- 
fit of the city and the public $ and he, therefore, con- 
tended, that it was not just he should pay an expense 
which properly belonged to the city commissioners and 
the corporation, to whom he paid annually an immense 
amount of taxes, for its police, without having, in a 
single instance, ever solicited an abatement of his as- 
sessments. It was not the money, Mr. Girard said, he 
was contesting, but the principle — he w r as for justice* 
"I will give," said Mr. Girard, " thousands of dollars to 
improve the city $ but I will not submit to the exaction 

Q 



176 BIOGRAPHY OF 

of one cent, contrary to justice. You know I am an 
American citizen ; and what did we tell the French, 
when they attempted to degrade us by their exactions 
— 'millions for defence — but not a cent for tribute: 9 so 
I say to you, Mr. Commissioner, thousands for improve- 
ment, but not one cent for exaction." It is needless to 
add, that the city, becoming sensible of the injustice, as 
well as frivolous nature of the claim, agreed to its pay- 
ment. Thus, to his very heirs, to whom he has left mil- 
lions, he would not pay the trifling sum of fifty cents, on 
an unjust principle. 

This anecdote reveals a remarkable trait in the cha- 
racter of Girard $ and shows to what an extent he had 
determined in his own mind, even at that period, to 
become the patron and preserver of the city. Here was 
a case in which he had expended hundreds of thousands 
of dollars, in one of the most desirable city improve- 
ments, and yet he was called upon to pay an expense of 
fifty cents, for removing a lamp post! 

Besides this, Girard was always jealous of his rights, 
as an American citizen. He was not a Frenchman $ but 
always entertained a peculiar sensibility, lest he should 
be treated with less deference than an American ; which 
he was, in every sense of the word, having come to this 
country so early in life; and whilst the states were yet 
sunk in the dependence of British colonies. His feelings, 
his thoughts, and his passions were all strictly Ameri- 
can, with no more affinity, resemblance, or sympathy 
lor France, than for England, Russia, or China. 

At what period he improved himself in reading, stu- 
dy, and composition, I have not been able to ascertain ; 
nor is it probable, that he has left any means by which 
we could become acquainted with his progress in know- 
ledge. Whatever he knew, however, he must have ac- 
quired by his own application, and the native vigour of 
his intellect. Stephen Girard was altogether a self- 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 177 

taught man. Many books, however, we have reason to 
believe, he never had perused. By his own account, he 
had studied, and it was his favourite and almost only 
author— the works of Voltaire, whose philosophy he ad- 
mired, and whose sentiments found a congenial abode 
in his bosom. It is also probable, that he had read 
some of the works of Rousseau, and a little of Helvetius; 
but his small and choice library contained no complete 
edition of those authors, with the exception of the works 
of Voltaire; and a French dissertation on gardening, 
planting, and pruning, to the study of which he gave 
much of his spare time. Among the furniture of his 
common sitting room, are two elegant marble busts 
of Voltaire and Rousseau; whose every feature express- 
es the peculiar genius of those great and singular men. 

No part of his character displays so much real great- 
ness of mind and genius, as this of his self -instruction* 
Here volition in its highest degree, was indispensable, 
in order to raise himself from that state of ignorance 
which it is so difficult to emerge from, when surrounded 
by those of similar habits, and opaque understandings. 
A man who acquires even common knowledge, amidst 
all the adverse circumstances of condition and occupa- 
tion, poverty, and incessant toil, has already won the 
fairest wreath that adorns the brow of philosophy. 

The cells of a college are not necessary to make either 
a great, a wise, or a rich man. Knowledge may be as 
well acquired in the cabin of a ship, by the poor sea- 
boy ; or in the counting-room, or store, by the merchant 
and mariner, as in the halls of academies, and amidst 
the disputations of professors. Volition is the parent of 
education, either private or public. He who aspires 
after knowledge, cannot be debarred from its attain- 
ment $ and the dunce, though robed in the pompous uni- 
form of a university, will remain a dunce in defiance 
of books, professors, and dissertations. 



178 BIOGRAPHY OF 

The time has not long since passed, when to be what 
was termed & man of education, required a tour of dispu- 
tation through all the colleges of Germany, according to 
the settled and approved forms of the scholastic profes- 
sors $ and no man could aspire to scholarship, who had 
not " chopped logic" in Latin, German, or Greek, with all 
the divkies of Europe. But the pressure of self-formed 
intellect, soon broke down this gothic prejudice; and 
the time is not far distant, when the halls of a college 
will have no more connection with education, than logi- 
cal disputation in the German universities. 

Girard furnishes an example in proof of this fact, 
in addition to the numberless others that American his- 
tory teems with. He was self-taught. The hours* 
and the moments he could steal from business, he gave 
to the improvement of his mind ; and whatever he 
undertook to learn, there is ample reason to believe, he 
was not long in mastering. 

Owing to his peculiar habits, and the little time that 
he spent in his banking-house, I was under an impres- 
sion that he had, from his loss of sight, abandoned the 
practice of writing any continuous composition with 
his own hand ; and in this impression, I was confirmed 
by the declaration of my father, that he had never seen 
any of Mr. Girard's writing, but his signature. Mr. 
Roberts, too, his cashier, after the demise of Mr. Gi- 
rard, upon being asked this question by me, replied, 
that he had never seen any of his continuous writing $ 
a fact, which will tend to illustrate that habit of reserve 
and abstraction, which confined him so closely to his 
own business, and induced him to indulge so parsimo- 
niously in conversation. Yet this impression, as to his 
composition, was entirely erroneous. Mr. Girard wrote, 
and wrote well, in a beautiful hand, as late as 1805 ; and 
with a strict regard to grammatical construction, as 
well as general conformity to the idiom of the English 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 179 

language: of this, no doubt can exist; fori have had 
ocular demonstration of the fact. Even up to the last 
year of his life, his commercial and business letters 
were all written out by himself first, and then copied by 
his clerks. His style was plain and perspicuous ; never 
allowing his meaning to remain doubtful or obscure, 
and only ambitious to be understood as he intended ; 
the true style of epistolary commercial composition; 
and which he had probably acquired by dint of prac- 
tice as a sea captain, supercargo, and consignee* IV 
must be doubted, therefore, at least, if not denied, that 
a mind thus practised in philosophy, in business, and in 
composition, could, in any sense, be termed illiterate; 
except in relation to the higher branches of literature, 
criticism, and the belles-lettres; and even here, we may 
reasonably suspect he could not be very deficient, who 
had sagacity to conceive, understanding to appreciate, 
and taste to relish, the profound speculations, the su- 
blime theories, and the refined and pungent wit of Vol- 
taire, Rousseau, and Helvetius. For a merchant, de- 
voted to habits of gain, and esteeming all things as infe- 
rior to money ; this degree of literature and philosophy 
may be ranked as rather out of the common track of 
trade, and superior to those minds, who never break 
the physical boundaries of bales and casks, to sip the 
honey of a poet, or taste of those regions of immateri- 
ality, in which matter seems to be annihilated by the 
potent divinity of the soul. 

This taste for desultory reading, he had probably 
contracted originally in the course of his sea-voyages; 
in which men of strong minds so often become distin- 
guished for the eccentricity of their views, and the 
variety of their knowledge ; and among whom we may 
number the subject of this biography. 

I am aware that prejudice will oppose incredulity to 
this account of Girard's literary attainments; for no 

Q2 



ISO BIOCtttAPHf Of 

one could cherish this prejudice with more pertinacity 1 
than the author of this volume, up to the period that 
he was vanquished by ocular demonstration to the con- 
trary. This ignorance of the public, in respect to his 
attainments, is easily explained by that recluse and sin- 
gular mode of life, which characterised him j and which 
left curiosity to conjecture in the dark, the powers of 
the man, without any data of fact on which to found an 
opinion. Conjecture, of course, inferred the proper- 
ties of his intellect from the appearance of his person ; 
which, carrying about it all the usual marks of vul- 
garity and ignorance, those qualities were gratuitously 
applied to his mind, which were only confined to his 
body. 

No man could be more uncouth and rugged in his 
appearance than Girard ; which renders it not at all 
surprising, that deductions so unfavourable were drawn 
by all those who were not intimately, or familiarly ac- 
quainted with him : and who lost sight of the vigour of 
his genius, in the vulgarity of his exterior deportment- 
Errors and misconceptions like these, should lead us 
to be careful how we adopt the prejudices of breeding* 
or the principles and theories of physiognomy — the 
dreams of phrenologists, or the signs of metaphysicians, 
when estimating the characters of great men, whom we 
have seen but at a distance, and can only comprehend 
upon a close and severe analysis of his entire history 
and career. 

The opinions and views of a man so vigorous in in- 
tellect, and acute in the powers of observation, upon 
the subject of religion, cannot but form a curious in* 
quiry and speculation. On this question I am enabled 
to speak with the most positive certainty, as well of my 
own knowledge, as from the information obtained from 
my father. Original in all things appertaining to him, it 
can hardly be expected that Stephen Girard would, in so 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 181 

important a matter, follow in the track of custom, or 
blindly adopt the prescriptive belief of the world, or fall 
into the usual ceremonies of his paternal church. Educated 
in the bosom of rigid and devout Catholics } had he been 
of that common mould of mind, which adopts opinions 
because they had been cherished by his father, without 
examination into their truth and justice, Stephen Girard 
would probably have founded a monastery instead of a 
college for orphan children, or have endowed the city 
of Rome, and made the Pope his residuary legatee, in- 
stead of the city of Philadelphia. To the genius of a 
Girard, however, such a course was impossible. His 
searching and analysing mind, must understand before 
he believed i must feci the irresistible conviction of 
reason, before he gave the sanction of his judgment to 
any thing. But Girard, who thought like no other 
man, either on the common concerns, or extraordinary 
epochs and singular incidents of life, could hardly be 
expected to think like one, on a question where no two 
who do believe, believe the same thing, or can abstain 
from angry contention ; and if the reader should find in 
the great character of Stephen Girard, occasional evi- 
dence that he was not an orthodox Christian, or what, 
in a ghostly sense, is termed a pious man, before he 
condemns him, let him first settle what orthodoxy is, 
and adjust the scale of piety with mathematical preci- 
sion. But my task is with Girard as he was. I am 
neither his apologist, nor his accuser y and on such 
matters, he can have no proper judge but the Omnipo- 
tent himself. It is not for man to censure or condemn 
him, for a singularity of opinion, over which he had 
no control 5 not having given to himself that peculiar 
organization which determined his perceptions, or 
measured out to him his reason. In this country, free- 
dom of conscience is the first right sacredly guarded by 
our most excellent constitution : and perhaps no man 



182 BIOGRAPHY 0£ 

ever before so justly appreciated, or so fully enjoyed 
this precious privilege as Stephen Girard. 

The reason of this enjoyment, was the fact, that on 
the subject of religion, his opinions were atheistical. 
Let not the reader start to find himself in company with 
one, who utterly disbelieved in all modes of a future 
existence, and who rejected with inward contempt every 
formulary of religion, as idle, vain, and unmeaning. 
Yet such were the convictions of Girard, held to his 
dying hour, and perpetuated in his last testament as a 
legacy to future generations. To dissemble his opinions, 
or evade this part of his character, would be equally una- 
vailing and futile. He was known to be totally irreli- 
gious ; and to attempt to conceal what is notorious, 
would be to suppress one of the most extraordinary fea- 
tures of his character, without adding vigour to the 
cause of religion, or giving force to the precepts of 
virtue. 

Yet these impressions brought upon him none of 
those visitations of persecution, dictated by bigotry, 
which, in some countries, would have consigned him to 
hopeless banishment from all the justice and charity of 
mankind. Under the constitution of the United States, 
he could boast of all the rights and immunities of a citi- 
zen; and he required nothing more than toleration for 
opinions over which he had no control, and which he 
could neither will, nor reject. Careful not to invade 
the rights of others, either in thinking or acting, he 
asked only for the same privilege. His thoughts on 
religion exercised no influence over his moral conduct. 
He was a good citizen, and an excellent neighbour; 
benevolent, kind, and attentive ; nursing those who 
were sick, and becoming a father to the fatherless. 

Differing from the great majority in his religious 
opinions ; he yet freely opened his purse to erect 
churches, meeting houses, and other Christian institu- 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 183 

tions. Desirous to experience toleration, he was 
equally willing to extend it, with a measure of liberality 
which might put to the blush those bigotted opponents 
who denied him the same exemption from moral perse- 
cution. But Girard was a philosopher ; he knew that 
the measure of his belief could be the standard for no 
other man's belief \ and that all who judged honestly, 
judged rightly. He did not, therefore, preach his 
opinions on the house-top $ he did not attempt to stimu- 
late the public mind against religion, which he knew 
would be as nefarious as it would be intolerant; but he 
aided its ministers to erect houses for those to worship 
who felt that worship was a duty necessary to their 
moral perfection, and the fulfilment of a practical duty as 
good citizens. He claimed the same right for himself 5 
and considering Industry as the great deity of man, he 
took delight in labouring throughout every day in the 
year, observing no Sabbath himself, because his opin- 
ions did not sanction its observance in idleness. On 
this subject, he frequently expressed his opinions with- 
out reserve. He maintained that the observance of the 
Sabbath-day induced idleness in general, and was sure to 
beget vice, drunkenness, and other immoralities $ tend- 
ing directly to reduce the labouring classes to poverty, 
degradation, and that final scene of complicated wretch- 
edness, the Penitentiary or the Alms-house. In accord- 
ance with these views, he made it a point always to work 
on a Sunday $ and gave a preference to those he employed 
who would freely join him in toil on that day ; which, in 
fine weather, or rather in the agricultural season — for he 
heeded no weather — he generally spent on his farm, en- 
gaged in the most severe and laborious avocations. Com- 
mercial business of the most urgent nature only, had 
charms sufficiently powerful ever to detain him from his 
plantation toils on the Sabbath day. A particular know- 
ledge of his opinions on these points, I derived partly 



184 BIOGRAPHY OF 

from conversation with Girard himself, and partly from 
the information of my father ; between whom and myself 
he was frequently the subject of much discussion, criti- 
cism, and remark. 

On this subject of Girard's want of religion, we might 
answer all cavils by pointing to his works \ but the fol- 
lowing passage in the life of the Lord Chancellor Bacon, 
seems so appropriate in this place, that we beg to cite 
it for the edification of the reader. 

" The works of that celebrated ancient, (Aristotle,) 
have, in truth, more exercised the hatred and admira- 
tion of mankind, than those of all the other philosophers 
together. Launoy enumerates no less than thirty-seven 
fathers of the church who have stigmatised his name, 
and endeavoured to reprobate his doctrines. Morhoff 
has reckoned up a still greater number of his commen- 
tators, who were at the same time implicitly his disci- 
ples ; and yet both these authors are far from having 
given a complete list either of his friends or enemies. In 
his life-time,, he was suspected of irreligion, and by the 
Pagan priesthood, marked out for destruction : the 
successors of those very men were his partisans and ad- 
mirers. His works met with much of the same treat- 
ment from the Christian clergy ; sometimes proscribed 
for heretical; sometimes triumphant and acknowledged 
the great bulwark of orthodoxy. Launoy has written a 
particular treatise on the subject, and mentioned eight 
different revolutions in the fortune and reputation of 
Aristotle's philosophy. To pass over the immediate 
changes, I will just mention two, that make a full and 
ridiculous contrast. In the above mentioned council, 
held at Paris, about the year 1209, the bishops there, 
censured his writings without discrimination, as the 
pestilent sources of error and heresy ; condemned them 
to the flames, and commanded all persons, on pain of 
excommunication, not to read, transcribe, or keep any 



I 



i 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 185 

copies of them. They went further, and delivered over 
to the secular arm no less than ten persons, who were 
burned alive, for certain tenets, drawn as those learned 
prelates had heard, from the pernicious books in ques- 
tion. In the sixteenth century, those very books we're 
not only read with impunity, but every where taught 
with applause ; and whoever disputed their orthodoxy, 
I had almost said their infallibility, was persecuted as 
an infidel and miscreant. Of this, the sophister, Ramus, 
is a memorable instance." 

I quote this passage to show the vicissitudes of public 
opinion ; and how it becomes reversed in different eras. 
It is the voice of the majority that creates orthodoxy \ 
and as the world is constantly undergoing the most 
wonderful revolutions, it is impossible to predict when 
the opinions held by Girard, may not become as fa- 
shionable, as the creed of the Romish Church was once 
universal; and which still outnumbers, in the proportion 
of ten to one, the members of all the other Christian 
churches. 

In the same life of Bacon, we have the following very 
pertinent observation : " Innovations in philosophy, it 
was imagined, would gradually sap the very foundations 
of religion, and in the end lead to downright atheism. 
If that veil of awful obscurity, which then covered the 
face of nature, should be once drawn, the rash curiosity 
of mankind would lead them to account for all appear- 
ances in the visible world, by second causes, by the 
powers of matter and mechanism : and thus they might 
come insensibly to forget or neglect the great original 
cause of all." 

The opinions of Girard on this subject, however, gave 
no bias towards his mind, in relation to those that he se- 
lected for his agents, or to whom he gave his confidence. 
He never inquired into a man's religious opinions; con- 
fining his views exclusively to his industry, talents, and 



186 BIOGRAPHY OF 

moral fitness* It was equally a matter of indifference to 
him, whether he employed men of one sect, or men of 
another \ contenting himself with asking, " is he ho- 
nest, is he capable ?" 

Whilst on this subject of Girard's irreligion, I can- 
not abstain from making an extract from Lord Bacon 
himself. Vol. V page 469. — "It were better to have 
no opinion of God at all, than such opinion as is unwor- 
thy of him ; for the one is unbelief, the other is con- 
tumely $ and certainly superstition is the reproach of 
the Deity. Plutarch saith well to that purpose— 
i Surely,' saith he, < I had rather a great deal men should 
say that there was no such man as Plutarch, than that 
they should say that there was one Plutarch, that would 
eat his children as soon as they were born, as the poets 
speak of Saturn.' And as the contumely is greater 
towards God, so the danger is greater towards men. 
Mheism leaves a man to sense, to philosophy, to natural 
piety, to laws, to reputation ; all which may be guides to 
an outward moral virtue, though religion were not ; 
but superstition dismounts all these, and erecteth an 
absolute monarchy in the minds of men. Therefore, 
atheism did never perturb states ; for it makes men 
weary of themselves, as looking no farther $ and we see 
the times inclined to atheism, as the times of Augustus 
Caesar were civil times. But superstition hath been the 
confusion of many states $ and bringeth in a new primum 
mobile, that ravisheth all the spheres of government. 
The master of superstition is the people ; and in all 
superstition wise men follow fools; and arguments are 
fitted to practice, in a reversed order. The causes of 
superstition are pleasing and sensual rites and ceremo- 
nies : excess of outward and pharisaical holiness : over 
great reverence of traditions, which cannot but load the 
church : the stratagems of prelates for their own ambi- 
tion and lucre." 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 187 

The private habits of Mr. Girard, and his manner of 
living, partook of that seclusion and simplicity, which 
characterised him through life ; and might have done 
credit to Socrates, Plato, or the great Cato himself* 
Without being ostentatious, he was remarkable in his 
household establishment for a neatness that often bor- 
dered upon elegance ; and an appearance of comfort 
and utility which nothing could exceed. His dwelling- 
house, in winter, was carpeted from the cellar-kitchen, 
to the attic-story. His furniture, though plain, was 
substantial ; and sometimes bearing about it an impress 
of the opulence of its owner. Thus his drawing-room 
is furnished with ebony chairs and sofa, with crimson 
velvet seats ; which, though sombre, are rich, and will 
endure for centuries. But the general aspect ot his 
rooms, including his chamber, is of that plain, simple, 
and uncostly character, that one would expect to find in 
the mansion of a respectable citizen, who had no repu- 
tation for wealth. What might be termed a costly 
piece of furniture does not embellish his house. And 
in this he set an example ot republican simplicity that can- 
not be too highly extolled ; or which more powerfully 
invokes the imitation of our rising generation. His fur- 
niture, like his dress, exhibited a perfect contrast to the 
J wealth of the man. In his chamber, there was nothing 
I either sumptuous or convenient. On the table, he kept 
unloaded, a brace of splendid blunderbusses, of Ketland's 
| make, with brass barrels and steel bayonets. They are 
| of admirable workmanship, but appear never to have 
| been used. In one corner of his bed-chamber stood an 
I old-fashioned small mahogany desk and book-case, in 
I which was contained his library of Voltaire 9 s works. — 
1 The walls were ornamented with coloured prints, repre- 
j senting the female negroes of St. Domingo : and in a far 
| corner, I observed a small print of his Banking House, so 
situated, that his first glance, when he awoke, as he lay 

R 



188 BIOGRAPHY OF 

in bed, must necessarily light upon it. From his private 
counting-room, in which were two substantial fire-proofs, 
the prospect before him presented him with a view of 
the glistening waves of the majestic Delaware, where his 
ships rode at anchor, or, moored at the wharf, received 
their loading. In the rear of his mansion-house extend- 
ed a range of fire-proof stores, which he reserved for his 
choice merchandise, or the best parts of his India car- 
goes. To the time of his death, he resided in his man- 
sion, which he built in Water-street, amidst the bustle 
and clangour of business, ships, drays, carts, and wa- 
gons : the only music appropriate to his character, and 
the only harmony that chimed with the current of his 
thoughts, and beat responsive to the pulsations of his 
heart. Living thus amidst the turmoil of his business, 
his life became devoted to labour, and labour formed the 
pleasure of his life. 

Here he enjoyed himself to the utmost susceptibility 
of his constitution, to receive pleasurable sensations $ 
for to be always employed, and that employment always 
to yield him profit, constituted his supreme happiness. 

When we consider this narrow, dirty, and confined 
street ; darkened into perpetual shade by the lofty stores, 
which enclosed it on all sides, shutting out the beams 
of the sun : kept in incessant and horrible noise by the 
everlasting din of merchandize — close and unhealthy — 
and even the freshening breezes of the river obstructed 
by lofty stores, or tainted by filthy docks — it must excite 
unqualified astonishment, that a man so opulent, would 
sacrifice all that we in common, estimate as comfort, by 
residing in so disagreeable a vicinity. 

Such, however, it did not appear to Mr. Girard, whose 
habits had made him familiar with the scene, and trans- 
formed all its blemishes into charms 5 making even the 
bilge-water breeze to bear the perfume of the rose, and 
the rude song of the mariner, appear as the sweetest 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 189 

effusion of harmoay. We all know how powerfully the 
association of ideas tends to reverse the nature of our 
perceptions ; and when we remember, that Girard re- 
ceived the highest pleasure from the idea of profit, we 
may reasonably infer, that every object in any manner 
connected with the gain of commerce, imparted to his 
mind a pleasing emotion, however repulsive, or offen- 
sive to the senses of the common spectator. This ope- 
ration of the mind, when engaged in a darling pursuit, 
has long ceased to be an abstruse principle of philoso- 
phy. Common sense now sanctions its universal acknow- 
ledgment ; and we all know the different impressions 
produced by the same scenes and objects, on various 
minds engaged in opposite pursuits. A ship is to a 
sailor as a paradise, and the smell of tar a most grateful 
perfume 5 whilst to men, generally of other professions, 
they excite sensations disgusting or disagreeable. 

Men of the common stamp, would, when worth half a 
million, have sold out; and retiring to the west end of the 
town, would have purchased a palace; set up an equipage; 
issued cards for parties, and have been included in the 
bills of mortality as having died of the gout, or the gravel, 
at the advanced age of fifty-three ; leaving a dividend to 
their creditors, and a bright example to the rising gene- 
ration. But Girard was not of the common order of 
men : and he pursued his eccentric career of industry, 
frugality, and temperance. His days were all devoted 
to business, with the exception of those fractions of 
hours usually allotted to meals, which, with him, occu- 
pied but a brief period. He gave but a few minutes to 
breakfast, unless he had a guest, out of whom he was 
extracting information essential to business, and condu- 
cive to profit. He generally dined about one ; and 
though, when in robust health, a good feeder, yet he 
never gratified his appetite to the full extent. Supper, 
he took none, except occasionally a biscuit, and a glass 



190 BIOGRAPHY OF 

of water, previous to going to bed. He slept little-— 
retiring to bed at 12, 1, or 2 o'clock, according as busi- 
ness claimed his vigils, or the incessant activity of his 
mind prevented sleep. He arose early, generally long 
before the dawn, at 3 or 4 o'clock, very often taking his 
breakfast by candle-light. Such was the regular and 
undisturbed routine of his manner of living; never 
broken in upon, except by business, for which he gave 
up every thing. With the exception of claret and 
cider, he was a water-drinker ; but of both of these, he 
was extremely fond. He had no disposition for con- 
vivial habits, and never indulged in them ; incessant 
industry being the only excitement that he ever suffered 
to ruffle the equanimity of his mind, or exalt the regu- 
lar current of his spirits to a higher pitch. He was 
not companionable ; and, unless excited by speculation, 
his company was about as entertaining as that of one 
of the statues in the temple of Thebes; and not much 
less cold, reserved, and chilling. 

No impression could ever be made upon his feelings. 
He was tenacious of his own ideas on all subjects, and 
acted up to his own determinations ; but to appeal to 
his feelings or his sympathies, was absolute folly. 

The great error in the general estimate of the cha- 
racter of Girard, consisted in supposing him constituted 
and organized like common men. Great numbers thought 
they had, in Mr. Girard, a sincere friend ; but Mr. Gi- 
rard knew no more of what formed friendship between 
men, than he did of what constituted friendship between 
one bale of merchandize and another. 

It was contrary to nature, that such a being should 
either be convivial or social. What he enjoyed, he en- 
joyed in himself, and not from any relation subsisting 
between him and others. Sentiment was out of the 
question with a pure matter-of-fact man. He enjoyed, 
during the whole vigourous part of his life, the plea- 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 1 9 1 

3u res of the table, so far as his frugality permitted him 
— but they lost none of their relish by being solitary — 
nor would company have added any zest to their sa- 
vour. 

An exception to this trait existed in his susceptibility 
of solace from female intercourse. On this point, he 
never professed to be fastidiously chaste ; and there is 
good reason to believe, that he was disposed, both by 
constitution and habits, to the free indulgence of lubri- 
city. It is believed, that, in this particular, the force 
of his passions overcame his love of frugality, and led 
him into what he, in other matters, would have deemed 
extravagance. 

I have been assured, that for the greater part of his 
life, Girard, though a temperate man, was a free-liver; 
and did ample justice to a well displayed table. 

At a more advanced period of his life, he varied his 
diet and mode of living, so as to adapt them to his im- 
paired vigour, and altered constitution; and for the last 
seven or eight years of his existence, he abstained alto- 
gether from animal food, but fared copiously at dinner 
upon bean broths, and other vegetable or farinaceous 
culinary preparations, suited to his palate; and occasion- 
ally varied in mode and substance. 

It will hardly be suspected, that a man thus singular- 
ly, but meritoriously endowed, would ever indulge in 
the pride of entertainments, or the expense and pomp 
of parties. No large feats ever glittered in his halls; 
no sumptuous dinners for the carousal of troops of mis- 
called friends, ever smoaked on his boards. He was 
not even hospitable; but he occasionally took pleasure 
in having a merchant or trader to breakfast with him, 
in social chat especially, or more properly speaking, 
only when he wanted to obtain any information essential 
to his plans or speculations, from his guests. On such 
occasions, h« was apt to prove extremely troublesome 

R 2 



192 BIOGRAPHY OF 

to his acquaintances. He would send for them late at 
night, as they were about to retire to rest ; and after 
detaining them until 12, or 1 o'clock, would invite them 
to breakfast the next morning, at an hour so early as to 
break in upon their allotted period of slumber. Of 
course, nothing short of some mutual stake or interest, 
would induce a compliance with such arbitrary exactions 
on the part of his acquaintances. The plea on his part, 
was business all day; and those who would not submit 
to his requisition, could not expect to share his confi- 
dence. On these occasions, he operated like a complete 
colustrator upon his subject, sifting out of him, little 
by little, every particle of information ; and when he 
had thus squeesed the orange, he permitted the skin to 
go, without feeling any sentiment of gratitude or re- 
spect, for the subject of his dissecting-knife. But whilst 
he desired to obtain such information, it was difficult, 
and often impossible to resist the artful manner in which 
he played upon his visitor. No man could be more in- 
sinuating; none more fascinating than Girard, upon 
occasions of this kind ; and I have heard many of the 
subjects of this searching operation declare, that he con- 
ducted himself in a manner so every way enticing, that 
they felt as if they could go to the world's end to serve 
him. I do not think the idea of his wealth, had any 
influence in begetting this fascination of his manner, 
when he chose to throw out his blandishments ; for I 
have partially felt it myself, and refer it altogether to 
a personal and intellectual peculiarity, not easily de- 
scribed. 

This is no doubt to be accounted for by the force of 
the ruling passion. We know how powerfully love ope- 
rates to soften the most austere tempers, into the most 
engaging and fascinating tenderness. In like manner, 
the love of money, must have operated upon the heart 
of Girard ; for, to suppose that he did not love money 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 193 

who had sacrificed every other object in life to its pur- 
suit, would be rank absurdity. Hence, on these occa- 
sions, he would even play the plausible and insinuating 
orator, taking advantage of every passion, weakness, 
and foible of his auditor; appealing to his pride, flat- 
tering his vanity, and magnifying his importance. One 
of the first steps towards placing others at our implicit 
disposal, is to put them in love with themselves, by 
exciting their vanity ; and then take advantage of the 
delusion for your own benefit. To my knowledge, Mr. 
Girard was a complete adept in this art. He could pe- 
netrate to the ruling passion of others, and act on it to 
further his own purposes, and accomplish his schemes. 

He knew well how to deport himself towards the diffe- 
rent conditions and ranks of men. To his superiors in fa- 
mily, or rank, he was deferential $ to those below him, 
in his employ, he was imperious and arbitrary : to the 
common classes of respectable citizens, he was cold and 
reserved, inflexible and uncomplying. 

His command over his tongue was wonderful $ for 
when he chose, he could maintain the most tantalizing 
silence; thus evading a negative, or affirmative response: 
or, indicating, in this way, that he desired your absence, 
and would hold no conversation with you. 

At his plantation, when visiters intruded, he would 
neither invite them in, nor solicit them to sit — lest they 
might be tempted to prolong their stay. There was 
philosophy, if not good breeding, in this method of dis- 
pensing with the presence of unwelcome guests. 

He had but one equipage, and that was an old-fash- 
ioned chair, being on leather springs $ the horse attach- 
ed to which was nearly as plain as the master who 
drove him. This he kept in constant use, in riding to 
and from his plantation in the Neck. On one occasion 
he committed the extravagance of newly painting this 
chair green, and ornamenting the back with the initials 



194 BIOGRAPHY OF 

S. G< the utmost stretch of ostentation that I believe he 
ever committed. 

Even this humble vehicle, he seldom or never used, 
except to ride out to his place. He preferred to walk 
on all occasions, and in every state of the weather, even 
to the latest days of his life $ and in the most vigorous 
period of his health, before age had shorn him of his 
vigour, he as frequently walked to and from his planta- 
tion as he rode. On these occasions, he wa3 not a little 
proud and boastful of his pedestrianisrn. In the hottest 
days of summer, he has been known to walk to the ship- 
yard, where he was building a vessel, morning and even- 
ing ; and as this was one of the most remote yards in 
Kensington, it was a feat of no inconsiderable perform- 
ance, when added to his other perambulations through- 
out the city. 

He had a peculiar and singular aversion to riding in 
a carriage, and never kept one $ nor is it known that 
he ever rode in one. In this I suspect there was 
more pride than disinclination, arising from its being 
either disagreeable or inconvenient to him. One of the 
last things that Girard would have been disposed to 
commit, was any act that might bring upon him the 
appellation of an vpstart ; for he had a proud spirit, as 
well as a consistent one, and always despised that mean 
display of sudden wealth, which effuses from contracted, 
vain, and little minds. Had he been the master of fifty 
millions, he would have walked as humbly as if but the 
possessor of as many dollars. 

This love of walking appears to me the only trait of 
national character that he retained $ and as a Peripatetic, 
he was a true Frenchman. To this habit he was no 
doubt indebted for much of that health and vigour which 
protracted his life to a firm old age. 

It was a remarkable trait of this remarkable man, that 
he undertook no speculation, enterprise, or project 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 195 

which he did not personally superintend. If he built a 
ship, he was sure to be on the spot before the rising of 
the sun \ and often never left it until it had sunk far over 
the western hills. It was the same with his buildings : 
he inspected every part, with a special eye to the sound- 
ness of the material, and the solidity of the work \ al- 
ways being less anxious about embellishment than 
utility. Nothing was too minute to escape his atten- 
tion, and if he discovered that those he employed were 
not faithful to their trust, he discharged them, and en- 
gaged those more industrious, and having a greater dis- 
position to serve him. Numerous anecdotes are known 
on these points, which would illustrate his love of punc- 
tuality $ his rigour in exacting conditions, and his un- 
ceasing vigilance in all that concerned the advancement 
of his interest. 

He always projected the plan and style of his build- 
ings himself, or selected such as were submitted to 
him $ he was not willing to receive the dictation or sug- 
gestion of another, though in a profession of v/hich he 
was ignorant, and of which his adviser was fully master 
of. The old habits of the mariner, still made him ab- 
solute in every thing. In case any defects or errors 
were committed by Girard, on such occasions, his atten- 
tion had to be drawn towards them with the utmost cau- 
tion, in order to get his consent to such a revision, as 
was necessary to the unity and perfection of the plan. 
In all such alterations, he cared nothing about expense. 
If any thing was wrong, his decision was prompt — 
" tear it down, and build it up right." 

All these peculiarities indicate a spirit conscious of pos- 
sessing great powers ; fixed unalterably in the principle 
of probity, resolved to do right at every cost and sacrifice, 
and distrustful of the judgments and principles of those 
around him \ because he knew, that though bred to 



196 BIOGRAPHY OF 

good mechanical labour, yet they had not that activity 
of intellect, correctness of taste, and discrimination of* 
judgment, necessary to enable them to plan a building 
on a scale of general and minute utility, combining the 
beauty of general outline, with the economy of useful 
detail. On this account, the great disparity between 
his own conceptions and those he employed, he frequent- 
ly found it difficult to make them comprehend him ; but 
when once he had struck the proper idea in their minds, 
they immediately confessed the advantages, and adopted 
the improvements of his suggestion. 

Within my recollection of him, a period of twenty 
years, Mr. Girard has never travelled. He projected 
and talked of making a journey to his coal estate, in 
the summer of 1830 $ anxious still to have an eye upon 
every thing he undertook; but the pressure of his other 
avocations, rather than the dissuasives of his friends, 
prevented it. This may be considered rather a surpris- 
ing circumstance in the history of a man, who had pe- 
regrinated so much in early and middle life $ and who 
had contracted the unsettled habits of the mariner. It 
is singular, that after having left that profession, he 
should settle down so permanently in one place, and 
never travel or remove from it afterwards. The fact 
shows that his mind had cast anchor, and that one great 
and all-absorbing pursuit had taken full possession of 
his faculties. 

The truth is, he could not travel, without first retir- 
ing from business ; for he had so tied himself down by 
his innumerable avocations, and plans, and engagements, 
as to have no spare moment on his hands. But why 
should he travel? He had seen enough of the world ; 
and there only exist the motives of gain to impel him to 
a wandering life, and of gain he had enough, without 
stirring from his hearth. He could not travel for plea- 



STEPHEN GIRAtlD. 197 

sure 5 for it could yield none so pure and intense, as 
hat which he enjoyed by his daily visits to his planta- 
tion. 

His large coal estate was purchased by him in May, 
1830, of the trustees of the old Bank of the United 
States, at public auction. It consists of 30,000 acres of 
coal and timber land ; and at the time of his death, had 
cost him 170,000 dollars. 

The coal estate of Mr. Girard is situated in Schuylkill 
county, with the exception of some eight or ten tracts 
that extend into Columbia county, Pennsylvania:— 
amounting altogether to sixty-eight tracts of upwards of 
four hundred acres each | all lying in one entire body, 
extending in length from east to west, upwards of fifteen 
miles; and being in breadth, from north to south, nearly 
three miles. The Girard rail-road will pass into it, 
within eight miles of Pottsville ; and taken altogether, 
it promises to become, in point of wealth and utility, 
one of the most valuable and magnificent estates in the 
whole Union. 

It takes in all the celebrated Beaver Meadow Coal Range, 
being the high table land, now composing the Machanoy, 
and part of the Broad Mountains. The entire body con- 
sists of about thirty-two thousands acres — five thousand 
acres of which, lying to the north, is red shell, well water- 
ed and abundantly timbered, the latter being principally 
white pine and hemlock. Nine tracts of this are now 
settled on ; and are in a tolerable state of cultivation ; 
but the country being rude, and the settlement new, the 
dwellings and out-houses are of course, very indiffe- 
rent. Had Mr. Girard lived a few years longer, his spirit 
and enterprise would have caused it to bloom like a 
garden. 

The Catawissa creek passes through six of the nine 
tracts, giving to each tract a water power equal to a one 



198 BIOGRAPHY OF 

hundred and fifty horse power, throughout the whole 
year. There are now in operation, on these tracts, two 
grist and four saw mills. 

The extent, resources, and incalculable importance 
of this estate, to the commonwealth, as well as his im- 
mediate heirs, has made it an object of interesting mag- 
nitude in the life of the proprietor, and may be consi- 
dered as one of those incidents which constitute a crisis 
in our lives. The purchase and appropriation of this 
estate alone, will forever stamp Stephen Girard as one 
of the greatest benefactors of the city of Philadelphia $ 
under the reasonable presumption, that the corporation 
will carry into full effect, his wise and beneficent purpose, 
of supplying the city with coal, timber, and iron, to the 
full capacity of his estate \ whose riches in these articles 
are inexhaustible, and more precious than mines of silver 
or gold. 

When the little Schuylkill company's rail-road shall 
be extended to the Susquehana river, it must pass di- 
rectly through the immense coal beds of this valuable 
depository of mineral wealth, and will then give the 
lands on the Catawissa, advantages for the erection of 
iron works, not equalled in any part of Pennsylvania. 

The remaining twenty-seven thousand acres constitutes 
one entire mass of the very best anthracite coal lands. 
The Beaver Meadow beds passing through them longi- 
tudinally i the quality of which is not equalled by any 
coal yet sent to market. It can be quarried in many 
places with more facility, and at a cheaper rate than 
stone. The Machanoy and Shanandoah creeks rise in 
it, and as they meander through it, lay the coal bare in 
various places. The timber here is not very abundant, 
but is principally hemlock, and white and yellow pine. 

Much bog iron ore was taken off this land some years 
since, to a neighboring furnace $ but finding abundance 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 199 

of rock ore much nearer, the bog ore remains. Im- 
mense beds of the first rate sand-stone are also found on 
these tracts, that may be quarried with great facility. 

During the short period that Mr. Girard had posses- 
sion of the land, he erected seven small log dwelling- 
houses, a*nd two saw-mills. Had he survived but two 
years longer, he would have given such an impulse to 
the coal operations in that quarter, as would forever 
have secured him a high renown for his superior wisdom, 
foresight, and public spirit. 

On the 6th March, 1831, he subscribed four thousand 
shares at fifty dollars each, the sum total of two hundred 
thousand dollars, to the Danville and Pottsville rail-road. 

It is a little remarkable, that anxious as he always was 
for the improvement of the city, he did not, at an earlier 
period, evince a desire to have an Exchange construct- 
ed, that would represent the opulence and capital, at the 
same time that it might facilitate and improve the com- 
merce and trade of Philadelphia. This, however, may 
in part have arisen from his singular commercial habits. 
Stetphen Girard was not a Coffee House merchant. He 
had no time to lounge upon 'change, and no inclina- 
tion to swallow juleps ; or, discuss voyages. He made 
his fortune in his counting house, not upon the Ex- 
change, where, had he been a regular visiter, it is highly 
probable that he would never have gained it, or would 
soon have lost it. His own head, and the advice of his 
correspondents, regulated his voyages 5 and he knew 
well how to obtain the highest market price for his 
merchandize 1 but not by hawking it at the coffee house. 
It was probably owing to this fact, that he never thought 
of it, until so close upon the latter end of his life ; for 
his subscription of ten thousand dollars towards build- 
ing an Exchange, was made in August, 1831 ; and had 
he espoused this undertaking at any period, a doubt can- 
not be entertained, that it would have been accomplish- 

S 



200 BIOGRAPHY OF 

ed, without delay, or obstraction. Giving his aid at 
the time he did, appears to indicate his motive to have 
been rather the improvement of the city, than any ideas 
that he attached to an Exchange, as having a beneficial 
operation upon commerce, or as affording facilities to 
trade. That he did not before take an active part in it, 
is the more remarkable, as he was a Director of the 
Union Insurance Company from its incorporation up to 
the day of his death $ and where he frequently spent an 
hour, when not engaged in pressing business. 

It was at the Union office that he always effected In- 
surances upon the adventures of his captains, and some- 
times on his own vessels and cargoes $ when his own offer 
of premiums was accepted, which was sure to be one- 
half or one per cent, below the common rate of risks. 
If the company would not take them as he had fixed 
them, he would take them himself, and leave them to 
regret their refusal. 

As much of his time was spent in the Union office, 
for even a half hour was much for him, a curiosity was 
often manifested by the Directors, to know what disposi- 
tion he intended to make of his property at his death ; 
and to the many interrogatories put to him on this ques- 
tion, he seldom returned any answer, except a significant 
smile — save on one occasion, when he replied — "gen- 
tlemen, all I have to say is, that no man shall ever be a 
gentleman with my money" An expression, which as 
it occurred upwards of twenty years since, shows with 
what inflexible firmness he adhered to a resolution, 
which had been formed with that philosophical delibera- 
tion for which he was remarkable. 

If we examine into the soundness of this opinion, we 
shall be disposed to yield our unqualified admiration, 
to the knowledge of human nature, as well as the moral 
sentiment upon which it is founded. Worthless heirs 
to large fortunes, which they had no talent to acquire, 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 201 

and no judgment to spend, have been the bane of the 
world. They have lived wretched, and died mad ; exe- 
crating themselves, and venting maledictions upon those 
who had left them heirs to their estates. No man knew 
better than Girard, the danger, nay, the certain ruin of 
coming to the possession of wealth, without earning it 
by one's own industry. Why then, should he curse men, 
by making them gentlemen on his fortune ? But a 
higher consideration governed him in this decision. He 
held, that an obligation rested on every man to apply 
his property to ends the most useful to society. To be- 
queath his fortune to be squandered by spendthrifts, 
would be but a poor return to society, for the benefits he 
had derived from the social institution ; when he had it 
in his power to give it perpetual circulation for the most 
beneficent and profitable ends. Utility being his govern- 
ing principle, he would of course come to the conclu- 
sion not to employ his capital in making " gentlemen," 
who are of little ©r no use to the community, to them- 
selves, or to their families. 

It might with some reason be conjectured, that a 
man so much engrossed by worldly concerns, and the 
acquisition of money, as Stephen Girard, would have 
neither time, nor inclination, to think of the approach of 
death, or the diseases and dangers incident to extreme 
old age. But this conjecture would only prove, how 
little we can judge of the secret thoughts of the man, 
from the general traits of his character. It may readily 
be conceived, that from the perils he had passed through 
at Bush-hill, in 1793, as well as during other seasons of 
malignant fever which had desolated Philadelphia, that 
Stephen Girard could have no fears of death, beyond 
that instinct of self-preservation, which prompts shud- 
dering nature to shun its threatened destruction. For too 
often had he put his life in jeopardy, in the most intre- 
pid and fearless manner, to be suspected of such a weak- 



202 BIOGRAPHY OF 



I 



ness, if indeed, that be a weakness, which the greatest 
men have sometimes manifested. Frequently, at vari- 
ous periods of his life, has he expressed his opinions 
to his friends, that he could not expect to live much 
longer ; and that if he should die to-morrow, his books 
would be found all posted up ; — he was ready at any 
time to depart, having already lived to a period greater 
than he had a right to expect. From the age of fifty 
upwards, to sixty, to seventy, and finally to eighty 
years, did he, as he climbed up to the octogenarian cli- 
max, express his belief, that he could not last much 
longer, and must now prepare to depart. But this idea 
never changed his course of action, or caused him to 
relax in his efforts of industry and usefulness. He ne- 
ver thought of retiring from business $ he never fancied 
that he had too much to do ; he never longed for the cares 
of indolence, or supposed the stage of life had not room 
for him. He knew better $ he knew that the indus- 
try of age can maintain its position on the stage of life, 
as well as the enterprise and activity of youth : that 
talent, perseverance, usefulness, industry, and virtue, ne- 
ver grow old, and that there is no period of retirement, 
whilst the man remains physically and mentally entire. 
This fallacious impression, which ought to be classed 
among the vulgar errors of the age, he was often heard 
to combat ; adding, that it was a mere pretext for indo- 
lence ; for that the body as well as intellect of an old man, 
were to be kept in a healthy state only by occupation — 
which he required as much as the young — and he illustrat- 
ed his theory by his practice ; for at seventy-nine years 
of age, he would do as much work on his farm in a day, 
as any young labourer that he hired on his plantation. 

There is not less novelty than usefulness in this ra- 
tional doctrine of Girard ; and it deserves the attention of 
the world, to ponder and act upon the precept. By 
putting this principle in practice, we should double the 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 



203 



productivepower of the country, double the sum of our na- 
tional wealth, and what is of more importance, we should 
double the amount of our happiness and our health. 

It is preposterous to suppose, that any man can be hap- 
py in a state of idleness ; or that he can have health with- 
out constant occupation for the mind as well as the 
body. He who retires from business, under the delu- 
sive idea, that he is about to enjoy himself, anticipates 
the grave by twenty years, and flies to embrace cares 
and miseries, that he never otherwise would have met. 

If the example of Girard should meet with followers, 
in this particular only, he will not have lived in vain ! 

That there is no fixed period for retirement from the 
business of life, is unquestionably true. Age may, no 
doubt, be averted or postponed, by resisting those indul- 
gences which indolence pleads for in the name of in- 
firmity, before infirmity comes upon us. The perfection 
of our being depends on incessant occupation. If the 
constitution is vigourous, old age will not soon disable 
us 5 and to keep it, or make it vigourous, industry and 
activity are indispensable. This was the doctrine of 
Girard, and its wisdom was attested by his protracted 
health and usefulness. Although constantly prepared 
for the visitation of death, yet he never remitted in his 
schemes of life. He still projected voyages for his 
ships 5 still planted his trees ; still built his houses ; ex- 
tended his schemes of benevolence, and widened the 
sphere of his actions and his usefulness. His worldly 
concerns were always settled ; and he left it to heaven 
to settle all the rest, perfectly satisfied, whatever might 
be its verdict. 

Few men, not even Voltaire, ever deported themselves 
through life, with so perfect an exemption from all the 
weaknesses of superstition, as Girard. He feared no 
judgment, and no retribution. He trusted to no Provi- 
dence, and he was never disappointed. He was wont 

s 2 



204 BIOGRAPHY OF 

to say, "I always keep my shoulders to the wheel, but 
I never pray to Jupiter." No storms, no tempests, no 
thunder, no lightning, ever moved him. Amidst all 
the horrors of the yellow fever of 1793, he never thought 
of Providence, and never dreamed of prayer. But his 
actions rose to the highest pitch of moral sublimity $ 
and he, perhaps, was as much indebted to his exemp- 
tion from superstition, for his safety, as to any other 
cause. 

It is indeed, wonderful, when we reflect on it, how he 
could so coldly pass through the terrors of that awful 
period, without feeling that tremour which smites the 
heart, when we behold the power of God manifested in 
the prostration of our nature. For how few can even 
gaze upon the lifeless form of a human being, without 
saying within himself, "how awful is the mysterious 
power of God! how inexplicable the ways of that Pro- 
vidence which conducts man from life to immortality!" 

And yet Girard had met with afflictions. He had 
seen his wife a maniac ; he had buried her in a hos- 
pital 1 and bent over the corpse of an only child! Yet 
his heart remained untouched by a conviction of the 
existence of an over-ruling Providence ; and the power 
of God extending to the government of human concerns. 

His ideas on the subject of death, often expressed to 
my father, as well as myself, approached nearer to those 
of the stoical school, than to any other. Of the future 
state of the soul, therefore, he took no concern ; and 
about it, felt no anxiety. The time, or manner of his 
dying, never gave him a moment's disquietude. He 
said, he left that to nature, who had brought him into 
existence without his agency, care, or co-operation ; and 
to the same power, he left it to take him out of it in the 
same manner. He had made up his mind, he observed, 
(in 1822,) twenty years ago, that his time was nearly 
come, and could at the utmost, survive but a few years 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 205 

longer; for all old men must daily expect the summons 
to quit this transitory scene. A man who thus thought 
of death, could have no uneasiness about dying, and 
certainly did not give himself or others, an opportunity 
of saying, that death had taken him by surprise: thus, 
living out his maxim even to the grave, that a wise man 
ought never to be taken unawares. 

It has been supposed by many, that the apprehensions 
of death would infect his mind with distress, because of 
his reluctance to part with his immense wealth ; which, 
although a conjecture as natural as it is reasonable, was 
yet illusory and unfounded. On this point, he felt nei- 
ther reluctance nor inquietude $ for he had long accus- 
tomed himself to look upon his property as a mere stew- 
ardship, which he held in trust for others, and that at 
his demise, he must surrender it up to the public, for 
whom he had gathered it together. Upon this subject, 
he frequently declared to my father, that he was merely 
an agent, acting for others, and that the money was only 
his in trust. Such an idea generated by, and combined 
with the intention of his bequests to the public, must 
necessarily remove all possibility of perturbation and 
uneasiness, arising from this source \ and his natural 
fortitude and vigour of mind, rescued him from the 
peril of any other, emanating from ghostly tenets or su- 
pernatural fears. 

It is not the task of his biographer, to reconcile the 
apparent contradictions that may occasionally appear 
in the character of Girard ; but I may here remark, 
that this idea was by no means incompatible with that 
excessive love of money, which distinguished him 
through life, if we refer to the predominant passion as- 
cribed to him in the commencement of this volume, 
and which affords the only rational key to his real genius 
— I mean his ambition. Girard loved money only as the 
means to accomplish an object, that was far more dear 



206 BIOGRAPHY OF 

to him than money — fame ! It was in this sense, that he 
constantly gave out intimations, of his being merely the 
steward of his own wealth, which he held in trust for 
the public, as a road to immortality. 

If his motive then, was ambition, it may be said, his 
mind was not benevolent. The truth of this inference 
may be doubted. He had his free choice of means, by 
which to attain renown ; he could choose any of a thou- 
sand paths ; and if he selected a benevolent one, I main- 
tain that his philanthropy cannot be doubted or im- 
peached. He must have felt all the force of a benevolent 
feeling, to take this direction to the goal of fame. 

Whether the human heart is susceptible of any one 
pure and unalloyed motive, may be reasonably question- 
ed. I have never yet seen pure love, pure mercy, or. 
pure philanthropy. Some relative, collateral, or adjunct 
feeling, will always mix up with the most exalted of our 
emotions, the most disinterested of our deeds. Why 
then should we exact of Girard, what we cannot our- 
selves give birth to ? 

The mind of Girard was too powerful to be swayed 
by superstition, and his life too active, ever to suffer him 
to become a victim to chimeras. He had studied phi- 
losophy in the nakedness of reason, and the divinity in 
the sublimity of nature. His attachment to rural occupa- 
tions, shows a purity of taste, and a devotion of the 
heart to the divine majesty of nature, which pleads in 
favuor of the innate piety of his soul, in language not 
less convincing than eloquent. Who can tell, that even 
when toiling in his fields, his heart has not quaked at 
the omnipresence of the majesty of nature's God, which 
has bowed down his spirit in the silent worship of fee- 
ble man, overcome by the grandeur of the eternal and 
unchangeful charms of the mysterious works of the di- 
vinity! 

For some time previous to the illness which terminat- 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 207 

ed his death, Mr. Girard had been undergoing that 
gradual breaking up of the constitution, by which nature 
kindly prepares us for an easy transition into another 
mode of existence; perhaps, to save us from those con- 
vulsive throes, which would otherwise cause a too ex- 
crutiating torture in our last hours. In 1826, he was 
violently attacked with the erysipelas in his head and 
legs, which confined him to his house for several weeks $ 
and, finally, produced that alteration in his constitution, 
which may be said to have landed him safely from the 
tempests of disease, on the last rock of old age. The 
debility consequent upon this attack, was perceptible 
for some time ; but his natural stamina triumphed over 
its inroads, and he appeared to regain his former vigour. 

This illness of 1826, as it confined him to his house 
for several weeks, of course prevented his attendance 
at the bank. To obviate this difficulty, Mr. Roberts, 
his cashier, alw T ays proceeded to his dwelling, with the 
notes offered for discount, where he attended to the busi- 
ness with the same zeal and solicitude which he had ever 
manifested at the bank. 

On this occasion, Dr. Monges was called in, whose 
skill and genius successfully combatted the disease. 
Having attacked Girard in the legs, it required all the 
efforts of his phypician, to prevent him from making 
such an application of powerful remedies, as might have 
driven the force of the malady to the brain. Impatient 
to attend to his business, as usual, he was extremely 
restive under confinement ; and had he not been hinder- 
ed, would probably have resorted to the use of medi- 
cines that would have terminated his life. 

It can hardly be supposed, that Girard had any know- 
ledge of medicine as a science. His skill was the skill 
of quackery, and his art the art of nursing, and apply- 
ing salves and poultices to sores, wounds, and bruises. 
But he was very ambitious, even on this occasion, of 



208 BIOGRAPHY OF 

being his own doctor, frequently to the great vexation 
of Dr. Monges, who was often near losing his patience? 
and abandoning his patient. 

After a tedious confinement of three weeks, Mr. Gi- 
rard emerged from this disorder, with very little visible 
alteration in his health and vigour ; and, according to 
his own account, " better than ever." 

He now altered his mode of living to a vegetable diet, 
which he continued up to the period of his death ; but 
he continued gradually to grow weaker, and his eye- 
sight becoming more and more dim, he found it diffi- 
cult to walk the streets with that safety that he had 
done a few years before. In the year 1830, I often dis- 
covered him groping in the vestibule of his bank, and 
feeling about for the door, without success. Still, he 
would suffer no one to attend on or assist him. This 
independence of spirit had, in the winter of 1830, nearly 
cost him his life j for, as he was about to cross Second 
street and Market, on his way home from the bank, a 
dearborn-wagon drove furiously towards him, and strik- 
ing his head on the right cheek with the wheel, lace- 
rated his flesh very seriously, and tore off the greater 
part of his right ear. The force of the blow knocked 
him down, and a gentleman, who observed the accident? 
ran to his assistance, but before he had hold of his arm, 
Mr. Girard had regained his feet, and was halloaing 
" to stop that fellow." He walked home ; but an exami- 
nation of the wound, proved it to be more serious and 
extensive, than was at first imagined. The injury ex- 
tended from the eye to the ear, and it was for some time 
doubtful, whether the cheek bone was not broken. Dr. 
Physick was, therefore, compelled to search the wound 
deeply ; but Girard bore it with a fortitude, which as- 
tonished his physician and friends, without moving a 
muscle, or uttering an exclamation. This was the most 
serious confinement of his life, and the injury was of the 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 209 

most irreparable character. He lost nearly the whole 
of his right ear, and the eye, before open but slightly, 
was now entirely closed. From this period, he began to 
waste in flesh, and a general alteration in his appear- 
ance, denoted the exhausting ebb of nature. 

This was undoubtedly the most severe stroke of af- 
fliction that Mr. Girard had ever been subject to. His 
anguish and sufferings must have been extreme, though 
endured with the uncomplaining fortitude of the stoic. 
The operations performed by Dr. Physick, on his cheek, 
would have shaken the fortitude and broke the constitu- 
tion of a younger man. How deeply Girard felt it, 
may be inferred from the fact, that his last Will is dated 
about the period of his recovery and confinement. 

From this period he lost much of that squareness and 
fullness of face, which had previously distinguished 
him ; and something of a waning spirit might be ob- 
served about him, as if passion was fast dying away, 
leaving the mind in unobscured brightness. 

A sensible alteration in his heart and his temper, for 
the better, were now said to be observable. He be- 
came more pliant and considerate ; and appeared re- 
duced nearer to a level with common mortals. 

His career of exemption from misfortune and affliction, 
had certainly been one of very extraordinary duration, 
of which few men can boast the good fortune to have 
enjoyed. When we reflect how few realize prosperity 
through every stage of life, how much it is in the order, 
of nature, to allot to all a portion of calamity and dis- 
aster, we may well express astonishment, that Stephen 
Girard was so highly favoured of fortune, as not soonejr 
to meet with one of her dark frowns. 

Thus impaired in stamina, he was but ill-fitted to 
repel the force of a malady, the most violent of all that 
have desolated our city since the eras of the malignant 
fever. Mr. Girard was attacked with the bronchites, 



2 10 BIOGRAPHY OF 

or influenza, in the last week of the month of December, 
1831. The violence with which this disease seized upon 
persons of all ages, was unprecedented $ but particular- 
ly those advanced in life, seemed to afford but little 
chance for the recovery of Mr. Girard, who then attained 
to his eighty-second year. 

As soon as it became known that he was sick, and of 
so fatal a malady as iheinfluenza, the whole city became 
agitated with the utmost anxiety and concern. Curio- 
sity, in the event of his death, to learn the tenor of his 
Will, had no doubt, a considerable share in this feeling $ 
but a much greater concern was excited by the vast 
amount of his wealth in circulation throughout the city, 
nearly four millions being then out on loan from his bank. 
Many, who knew his character intimately, no doubt 
felt a real regret at his illness, and an anxious desire for 
his recovery. But the world in general, who neither 
knew, nor had any regard for his character, felt never- 
theless, a profound interest in the issue of his sickness. 
Enquiries after his health were incessant $ rumours as 
various and as contradictory, followed one another in 
quick succession, till the excitement of the public mind 
grew to a pitch equal to that which would have attend- 
ed the illness of the first public character of the re- 
public. 

No small part of this interest felt in his fate, was 
caused by his singular and unique character. All were 
anxious to have an opportunity of knowing something 
of a man, after his death, of whom they could learn no- 
thing during his life-time. 

But the wide diffusion of his wealth, over the sur- 
face of society, had made every man, in some degree, 
a partner in his fate. The mechanic, the bricklayer, 
the carpenter, the stone-cutter, the merchant, the auc- 
tioneer, the manufacturer, all trades and all classes, 
were in some tangible and sensible manner, interested 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 2 I I 

in his fate, and looked to his departure from this world 
as a crisis seldom equalled in the history of mankind. 

Yet it is highly probable, that the native vigour of his 
constitution, v/ould have vanquished the disease, had 
it not directed its force against the very citadel of reason, 
thus depriving him of the aid and resources of his own 
judgment and experience. But when once the disease 
had touched his brain with inflammation, little chance of 
recovery remained. Fitful insanity or partial derange- 
ment quickly succeeded ; which increasing from day to 
day, at last terminated in unconsciousness, and prostra- 
tion. In this state of alternate aberration, and insensi- 
bility of mind, he is said to have repelled the remedies 
recommended by Drs. Physick and Clark, who on the first 
alarm had been called in. A friend of his who sat in his 
chamber an hour in the morning of the day of his death, 
represents him to have been altogether unconscious of 
his condition, and incapable of recognizing those around 
him. But a short time before he died, he got out of 
bed and walked across the room to a chair; but almost 
immediately returned to his bed, placing his hand to 
his head, and exclaiming, "how violent is this disorder! 
How very extraordinary it is!" These were the last 
words he spoke, to be understood — and soon after ex- 
pired ; thus verifying the opinion, which he had always 
entertained, that nature would remove him from this 
scene of existence, as she had brought him into it, 
without his care, consciousness, or co-operation. 

The confidence of Girard, in his own power of curing 
diseases, was always great ; and we have an instance in 
his d)ing exclamation, of his astonishment, that he 
should be attacked by a malady of which he was igno- 
rant ; and which for the first time in his life, he found 
himself unable to combat. And I have no doubt, that 
had his distemper left his head free to act, he would 
have succeeded in recovering from its virulence. 

T 



212 BIOGRAPHY Of 

He died on the 26th December, 1831, in the 82d year 
of his age, in the back chamber of the third story of 
his mansion, in Water street, unsurrounded by the 
splendour and pomp of riches ; departing from the 
world as he came into it— -naked — and leaving his im- 
mense wealth for the benefit of the poor and the public : 
departing like a faithful steward of the community, after 
having settled his estate to the satisfaction of all parties. 

Thus terminated the life and career of Stephen Gi- 
rard $ who from the public character of his business, 
and his immense fortune, had risen to an estimation in 
the attention of the community, not inferior to that 
which had distinguished Benjamin Franklin, or Wil- 
liam Penn. From the first moment of his illness, the 
excitement throughout the city as I have already re- 
marked, was unprecedented. Enquiries and rumours 
crowded upon one another ; and a thousand specula- 
tions as to the disposition of his millions, were quickly 
made current. But when his death was announced, the 
sensation it caused in the public mind, though of a dif- 
ferent character, was not less than that with which the 
news of the death of a great public benefactor, renowned 
in political life, would strike the community. 

An intense curiosity to learn the contents of his Will^ 
immediately seized the public mind $ and until some 
authentic particulars were divulged, conjecture filled 
the void with the most preposterous creations, from 
every variety of fancy, caprice, and prejudice. But the 
moment the true character of his bequests were known, 
a loud shout of applause and admiration, filled the 
public press, and flowed from every tongue ; succeeded 
by a profound sentiment of gratitude and esteem for the 
man, the citizen, and the philanthropist. 

Surprise and incredulity, for a time, divided the 
minds of men. His friends were disappointed, and his 
enemies disarmed : prejudice confessed she had done 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 213 

him injustice, and charity wept that she had ever 
deemed him hard of heart. Perhaps the anxiety, as 
well as depth of the emotions excited by his unique Will 
in the public mind, were never before equalled. 

The craving of the public to read the Will, exceeded 
that of the populace of Rome to peruse the last testa- 
ment of Julius Caesar. This, however, was not an idle 
curiosity, but the desire of approving reason, to scan the 
wisdom, foresight, and benevolence of him who had 
made orphans his heirs, and the citizens his residuary 
legatees. 

A bookseller immediately procured a copy of the 
Will, and announced its speedy publication. Thousands 
of copies were disposed of in a few days ; and being 
quickly copied into the public journals throughout the 
Union, it was more extensively diffused than any docu- 
ment of a similar character, not excepting the will of 
George Washington. 

It ought not to be passed over without encomium, that 
Stephen Girard, the proprietor of ten million of dollars, 
breathed his last in a chamber, not better furnished, nor 
better located, than the room of a mate of a ship in an 
ordinary boarding-house ; — a small back chamber in the 
third story of his Water-street mansion ! For this plain 
apartment, the superficial would condemn him for mean- 
ness ; but reason and philosophy must commend that 
republican spirit, which could disregard all the idle trap- 
pings of luxury, and maintain its manhood free from the 
enervating influence of a voluptuous life. 

The chamber in which Girard died, is well calculated 
to afford an impressive lesson, as well to the rich as to the 
poor, to teach the former how purely imaginary is the 
line of distinction that separates them from the latter | 
and to teach the indigent, that were their prayers ever 
granted to attain to riches, it would not be to ensure 
that fulness of enjoyment, in which imagination vaguely 



214 BIOGRAPHY OF 

riots, when contemplating the uncounted millions of a 
Croesus. 

As soon as his death was known, the ships in port 
displayed their colours at half-mast \ and the Councils 
of the city being expressly convoked on the occasion, 
solemnly decreed him public honours, and voted him a 
public funeral. The people were invited to join in the 
last tribute of respect to their friend and benefactor. 
The public authorities passed resolutions to walk in his 
funeral procession ; and every manifestation of respect 
was heaped upon him, which it was possible for a grate- 
ful people to exhibit towards a public benefactor. 

This feeling of respect and gratitude, mingled with a 
sense of sincere admiration for his talents and benefi 
cence, extended to all classes, with the exception of the 
Clergy ; whose good will he could hardly possess, for 
not having bestowed upon their religious establishments 
any portion of his wealth. He endowed no churches, 
and left no money to defray the expenses even of a single 
mass. This negative mark of irreverence, was after- 
wards confirmed into a supposed positive disrespect, by 
his exclusion of all clergymen from the walls of his 
College. 

He was buried on the 30th December, the Friday 
succeeding his death, in the Roman Catholic chapel 
yard, at the corner of Sixth and Spruce streets ; follow- 
ed by an immense concourse of his friends and fellow- 
citizens ; his own family attending as mourners, and 
the whole city anxious spectators of the solemn specta- 
cle. The windows of the houses in the streets leading 
to the church, were closed, out of respect, during the 
passage of the procession. No church ritual was per- 
formed at his grave ; and like his wife, after the man- 
ner of the Friends, he was silently deposited in the final 
abode allotted to frail and fleeting humanity. 

Singular even to the last hour of his continuance on 



I 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 2 i 5 

earth, no clergyman attended his funeral $ and yet no 
man was ever buried with such unanimous public re- 
spect ; a fact that seems to show, that the want of piety 
cannot be considered as criminal, where the wealth of 
the testator gives him the power to compensate for the 
error of his theory, by the correctness of his practice. 
Perhaps this is the only instance on record, in which 
no clergyman walked to the grave of a man as rich as 
Stephen Girard — not only without impairing his popu- 
larity, but adding to his celebrity and fame. 

To contrast with this singular omission, Ihe Grand 
Lodge of Pennsylvania walked in solemn procession, and 
full form, to the chapel— as mourners for their Grand 
Treasurer, and liberal patron. 

The public attention excited by the death of this ex- 
traordinary man, was not, however, of that character, 
which has undivided esteem and respect $ or general 
love and admiration for its basis. Perhaps no man 
who ever lived, so much divided public opinion as Ste- 
phen Girard : and the number of those who applauded 
his conduct and approved his character, was at least 
equalled by those who condemned the one and repro- 
bated the other. The very fact that no clergyman at- 
tended his funeral, and no priest chaunted over his 
grave, will at once account for, and corroborate this 
fact. His eccentricities excited the wonder of some, 
and the indignation of others. Those who did not ad- 
mire, could not fail to be amazed ; and those who were 
not amazed, were puzzled by the moral and physical 
enigma of humanity which his character presented. 
His immense wealth took captive the wild imaginations 
of the crowd. His solitary, or rather business habits, 
during life, which had made him a stranger to the 
people, caused him to become an object of enhanced 
curiosity when dead. Even his great and noble be- 
quests, conceived and executed in the peculiar spirit 

t2 



216 BIOGRAPHY OF 

of the living man, created adverse opinions, and split 
society into parties, favourable and inimical to his cha- 
racter. This diversity of sentiment, feeling, and prin- 
ciple, caused him to engross universal attention ; and 
necessarily to become an object of ardent eulogy to some, 
and virulent condemnation by others. This must ever" be 
the case, however, with strong, firm, and independent 
minds, who pursue the bent of their genius, in opposi- 
tion to prejudice and vulgar error; and are content to 
abide the impartial suffrage of succeeding ages, to the 
embittered and partial verdict of his own times. 

It is the peculiarity of men of genius that they antici- 
pate in their thoughts and actions, a future era; and may 
in this sense be said to have been born a century before 
their time. This was the case with Sir Francis Bacon, 
with Voltaire, with Hume, and with a thousand others; 
and it was emphatically the case with Stephen Girard. 
To do full justice to his character, a hundred years must 
elapse ; when the envy, bigotry, and jealousy of his own 
generation will have been buried in that ocean of time, 
which devours the offspring of passion, and leaves truth 
to eternal conquest. 

This reach of thought into futurity, by those orga- 
nized in a mould not common to their fellow mortals, 
will be found to consist in a just conception of things, 
and a rational appreciation of the customs of the world 
prevalent in their own time. It implies nothing more 
than a faculty of abstraction and discrimination, that 
enables them to detect prevailing errors ; and to rea- 
son upon pure principles, separated from the passions 
and prejudices of the age. It is, to be sure, a high and 
noble faculty ; but there is nothing mysterious or inscru- 
table in it. It implies the loftiest exercise of the most 
comprehensive intellect; but for that very reason, it 
stamps its possessor as one of those who move on the 
highest scale of created being. 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 217 

I am aware that I risk a smile in some of the present 
generation, by including the humble French mariner 
in this classification of intellect. But the truth is not 
less truth, because prejudice or envy rejects it. We 
shall adduce as a proof of the reality of our assertion, 
the mere fact of his having suggested improvements to 
the city, which would not, in all probability, have oc- 
curred to any man, before a hundred years to come. 
We allude in particular, to Delaware Avenue, on the 
eastern front of the city. 

Of the same character of ideas, I adduce his sugges- 
tion and regulations for a useful education ; an education 
of knowledge, instead of words. This has so far been a 
desideratum : and in this particular, perhaps Lord Veru- 
lum never had a more devout and faithful disciple than 
Stephen Girard. 

It is on this account, in a great measure, that the cha- 
racter of Stephen Girard presents a curious, as it does 
a comprehensive field, for the inquiry of the inquisitive, 
and the contemplation of the philosopher. In his va- 
rious relations — as a man — a merchant — a banker — a 
citizen — and a philanthropist, he excites much discre- 
pancy of opinion, and exhibits qualities, which it often 
becomes difficult to reconcile, as belonging to the same 
individual, or to account for as parts of the same cha- 
racter. As a man, he was of the common lot of hu- 
manity; a mixture of foible and of virtue, in which, 
however, the better qualities predominated. If his pri- 
vate habits were ever grovelling or occasionally immoral, 
he was, to counterbalance this weakness, generally cor- 
rect in his mercantile transactions, and punctual in the 
fulfilment of his obligations. What he once bound 
himself to do, he seldom after sought a pretext, to evade 
or violate. As a merchant, he was inquisitive, active, 
prompt, and sagacious : studious to learn all that he 
could from others, and as careful to impart nothing in 



218 BIOGRAPHY OP 

return. He always found time and a tongue, to make 
inquiries of others j but he -feigned never to have leisure 
to express his own views and opinions, which he careful- 
ly kept locked in his bosom, as data for his own specu- 
lations. This is. perhaps, the most profound finesse, of 
which commerce and speculation are susceptible. But 
his friends and neighbours, among the merchants, hav- 
ing noted and become accustomed to this habit, resorted 
to the expedient of watching his movements, and ob- 
serving as far as they could, the course and direction 
of his practical speculations: and as soon as they thought 
they could track him in the course of any of his adven- 
tures or voyages, or holding on for a rise in the market, 
they immediately followed in his wake, and never failed 
to make handsome profits. It was observed, that nearly 
all of his ancient neighbours had grown rich $ and it 
was explained by some, who avowed the imitation here 
described, to have been the main cause of their opu- 
lence. 

The insinuation and plausibility of his manners, on 
these occasions, when he made the knowledge of others 
tributary to his own schemes and profits, was so great, 
as never to permit his neighbours to suspect his object, 
until he had accomplished his ends. His method of 
proceeding was altogether indescribable ; but when he 
had finished his inquisitorial interrogatories, and was 
asked in return what he knew, what he had heard, or 
what was his opinion, his answer was invariably the 
same — he knew nothing — he had heard of nothing — and 
he did not know what to think. 

Doctor Johnson has justly observed, that thje same 
genius or force of mind, applied with success to one 
pursuit, will, applied with equal energy, accomplish the 
same triumphs in another. Commerce, as well as life, 
may have its good fortune, and its auspicious ebbs and 
flows, that baffle sagacity, and defeat the most rational 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 219 

arrangement of systems, series, and consequences. 
But intellect after all, is the great agent, which turns 
trade into the channels of fortune, and devises the means 
by which profit may be secured. No man, perhaps, 
ever possessed so great and perfect a genius for trade 
and commerce, as Stephen Girard — not that superficial 
trick or mere cunning, that exults in a dash of specula- 
tion — perpetrates an unworthy fraud — or rushes into a 
scheme of finesse, the mere common places of every-day 
hucksters. But that sound penetration, and various 
knowledge of the products of countries, and the state 
of markets ; the seasons and climates of various nations, 
which constitute what may be termed, the mental chart 
of the intelligent, talented, and liberal merchant ; com- 
bined with a constant observation of the political and 
domestic situation of countries, and their international 
relations, as they tend to influence their pacific or belli- 
gerent attitude towards one another : as was instanced, 
in his sending out Mr. Bancker to London, and invest- 
ing his English funds in British goods, which made him 
so prodigious a profit. This was the great, and the 
strong point of the mercantile character of Stephen Gi- 
rard. It was this which enabled him to calculate the 
precise point, at which to act — whether he would make 
a voyage to one port or a voyage to another — whe- 
ther he would sell, or retain his merchandize on hand, 
for a better market, to be determined by his know- 
ledge i his observing indications unseen by others, 
and his superior means of information, or power of 
reflection. Hence, that faculty of anticipation, for 
which he was so remakable in his commercial move- 
ments; always stepping before others in the race of 
trade, and which gave a greater air of eccentricity to 
his enterprizes of this kind, than they really possessed. 
But it was this faculty which enabled him to digest the 
state of markets, and the propitious times and seasons 



2^0 BIOGRAPHY OF 



of importation and exportation ; when his neighbours 
had scarcely glanced at the same objects. The most 
intelligent merchants have often been astonished to per- 
ceive, that when they thought they were communicating 
news to Mr. Girard, he was already perfectly familiar 
with the whole range of the intelligence, as well as its 
bearings and contingencies j and that, on the strength 
of his own peculiar views of it, he was already engaged 
in prosecuting a speculation, and reaping the profits of 
his foreknowledge ; or, had despatched a ship to realize 
the golden harvest that it promised to yield. 

In general, trade and commerce is made a matter of 
habit and custom. But Girard made it a subject of ori- 
ginal thought, and intellectual speculation. He trans- 
lated himself in imagination, to London, Holland, Paris, 
St. Petersburg, or Antwerp, as he chose. He took ex- 
tensive views from all points. In this manner, while 
hundreds of India merchants were trading themselves to 
ruin, he changed the course of his voyages to Europe, 
and made money ; and while others were paying a pre- 
mium for Spanish dollars here, he was obtaining them at 
a discount at London. 

This difference between him and others, consisted in 
nothing but superiority of mind, combined with inde- 
fatigable industry, which caused him to maintain the 
same sort of inquisitorial and searching correspondence 
with his agents, as he practised towards his acquaint- 
ances and neighbours at home. 

As a citizen, Mr. Girard discharged his duties with 
exemplary zeal, fidelity, and rigour. He was repeatedly 
elected a member of Councils; and gave his time, which, 
to him, was always money, to the improvement of the 
city. As a director of the bank and insurance compa- 
ny, he always did his duty; never falling short of his 
portion of labour, and often exceeding it. 

He held it as a maxim, that no man had a right to de- 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 221 

cline public stations, if his fellow-citizens called him to 
fill them : the public interest being always paramount 
to individual convenience. A more orthodox and prac- 
tical republican never lived than Stephen Girard. 

In all his various attitudes and qualifications of cha- 
racter, he appears in none more extraordinury, than in 
his address and tact as a quack lawyer. Few men could 
defeat or circumvent Girard in a law-suit ; and of the 
great number in which he was a party, during his life- 
time, he was seldom known to be vanquished ; and took 
a peculiar pride in boasting himself the victor. 

Nothing mortified him so deeply as to be cast in a 
law-suit, whether for a petty amount before a magistrate 
or an alderman, or for a hundred thousand dollars in 
the Supreme Court of the United States. Ambition to 
defeat his adversary, rather than mere interest, seemed 
to animate him, to obtain a verdict. It was, no doubt, 
this feeling that influenced him on one occasion, when 
prosecuted for the back interest on funded debt of the 
United States, by certain subscribers to the national 
bank stock, that he pleaded the statute of limitations, and 
by this means coerced a verdict in his favour for a small 
amount, contrary to the principles of equity and jus- 
tice. For this act, Girard has been generally and loud- 
ly condemned ; nor can he be defended, even on the 
supposition, that ambition, and not want of rectitude, 
impelled him to resort to so desperate and dangerous 
an expedient, of evading the payment of a just debt; 
which caused even the court and the bar, except his 
own attorney, to feel a conscious suffusion of shame. 

In petty case's before justices and aldermen, he exhi- 
bited the same skill, art, finesse, and evasion. 

On one occasion, he was sued by one of his neigbours 
in the Neck, for a trespass, by suffering his fences to go 
unrepaired, so that his cattle broke in the fields, and trod 
down the wheat of the farmer. Girard met the case at 



222 BIOGRAPHY Off 

all points, like a well drilled lawyer, thrusting his at- 
torney on one side, and taking the cause into his own 
hands. He came to trial, fortified with drawings and 
maps of all his fields and fences, and his witnesses $ and 
after a full examination, turned the whole force of the 
prosecution against his neighbour : proving that it was 
the farmer who allowed his fences to go unrepaired, and 
that it was the cattle of the farmer that had trespassed 
upon him, and not his cattle upon the farmer. So that 
Girard not only escaped, but obtained a judgment against 
the farmer. 

His rigour in making conditions with his labourers, 
too often brought him into petty legal conflicts. On 
these occasions, Roberjot was the factotum ;• and his 
lawyer was rather employed for show, than use* Some- 
times he has been unable to procure mowers to cut his 
grass, on the low terms that he exacted $ when he has 
suffered it to stand and go to waste, or turn it into pas- 
ture 1 for when he had once taken his stand, he never 
yielded. 

When he lost a law-suit, wo to his household ! It was 
then the torrent of his invective overwhelmed all around 
him. "Roberjot" in particular, had his full share of 
abuse and censure : and after his death, he vented his 
ill-humour upon those who were in his immediate 
vicinity, who belonged to the class of his dependents. 

After all, however, that observation, recollection, and 
tradition, can tell us of the habits, manners, principles, 
and character of the singular and extraordinary subject 
of this biography — more is to be learned of the real 
feelings of his heart, and the true complexion of his 
mind and temper, from the tenor of his will, than from 
all other sources combined. It may, however, be alleged, 
and with some show of reason and justice, that he has 
fashioned his Will more for the gratification of his ambi- 
tion, than from the love of virtue $ and that it bespeaks 






STEPHEN GIRAKD. 223 

quite as much vainglory, as it denotes benevolence and 
charity. But, let the peculiar circumstances of his 
eventful life be taken into consideration, and a very 
different conclusion will be drawn by an impartial mind. 
Stephen Girard had never been blessed by children, 
born under the mutual endearments of connubial affec- 
tion, and reared into heirship by paternal care, reward- 
ing while it awakened all those soft and ennobling sym- 
pathies, which mark the character of the anxious and 
fond parent. Fortune, though it had crowned his la- 
bours with a golden harvest, had placed a barren sceptre 
in his gripe, as if to counterbalance her favors by an af- 
fliction. In his old age, he found himself endowed with 
the immense fortune of a prince— but childless— with no 
heart to beat a response to his own, with sincere affection, 
or in unaffected and disinterested friendship,- at least 
so he thought, and so would every man equally rich, 
think, placed in the same circumstances, and having the 
same peculiar constitution. His very fortune interposed 
a mental and insuperable barrier to the existence of 
that intercourse whose basis is friendship, or esteem 
or affection. It was scarcely possible for Stephen Gi- 
rard, to think that any would love him for himself, or 
his virtues, when he loved none for the same qualities • 
though it is possible that a weaker intellect might have 
had the vanity to indulge in the conceit of an idea so 
preposterous. He looked, very justly, upon all who 
approached him, as having more attachment to the 
wealth that attracted them, than to his own person 
Thus circumstanced, rich, childless, and in amoral and 
social sense, forlorn-cut off from all the enjoyments of 
the sympathies of kindred and offspring-who can con- 
demn him for aspiring to the perpetuation of his name 
by means of the wealth, which he had spent a lone life 
of industry and solicitude to acquire ? It has, indeed 
been alleged with some colour of reason, that he was not 



224 BIOGRAPHY Of 

destitute of the tender sympathies; and they instance 
the attachment he always manifested for children, es- 
pecially his grand-nieces and his grand-nephews ; of 
whom he was said to be fond, and in whose society, and 
innocent prattle, he seemed to enjoy delight. But still, 
they were not Ms cMldren ; and all the animal instinct 
being wanting, he would suspect even their artless en- 
dearments as so many preconcerted schemes to win his 
fortune. Let those then, who feel disposed to censure 
him, place themselves in his situation ; and if they have 
ever felt the throes of ambition, or vanity, they will 
forego their reprehension for applause. For, through 
what medium has he, at last, sought to achieve his 
immortality, supposing ambition, and not benevolence, 
had been the master passions of his heart ? Through 
that very parental feeling, which had never been gratified 
during his life-time — through the grateful hearts of lit- 
tle prattling children, fed by his bounty, sheltered by 
his hand, and instructed by his benevolence ! Again 
it has been objected, that he did not thus appropriate 
his property, until he could no longer retain it to hi: 
own use; and that he who never gives till he dies, give; 
nothing, a saying more specious than sound, and better 
suited to the feeling of envy than the spirit of philoso- 
phical research. For why should a man surrender his 
property to any stewards, in his life-time, less faithful 
than himself? And suppose he did, who would thank 
him; and if necessary, through the vicissitudes of life, 
who would support him, supposing him to fall into 
poverty, or by unforeseen chances, should run upon the 
rocks and shoals of ruin ? We have the story of King 
Lear and Ms three daughters, to exemplify the folly of 
giving away property even to one's own children, during 
our life-time. Wisdom does not sanction the practice. 
But as it respects charitable donations, and kind offices 
of benevolence, which shed a ray of true glory over the 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 225 

path of man, as he treads onward to the tomb ; we have 
nothing to adduce, in extenuation of the conduct of Ste- 
phen Girard, but the redeeming virtues of his last testa- 
ment, when he adopted for his heirs, the heirs of afflic- 
tion. 

It is not the custom of mankind, whilst life and 
health enable them to manage and enjoy their wealth, 
to surrender it to others, or scatter it by piecemeal, 
in untangible acts of charity, which, like the dew from 
heaven, soon leave no trace behind them. We all covet, 
and all seek distinction. None like to give money, 
without leaving some mark behind, to make the gift 
memorable. That he held on his property to the last, was 
characteristic of the man 5 but mark, how he prepared 
to surrender it upon the first summons from the grim 
king of terrors, who, as he smote his heart, caused his 
hand to relax its grasp of his gold. But here, as in every 
thing else, he anticipated the final stoke, by obeying the 
first signal of the monarch of the tomb. His WW 
bears date February 16, 1830, as he began to recover 
from that severe contusion, which confined him the 
most part of that winter ; and when he no doubt felt, 
that his decaying vigour was fast ushering him upon the 
stage of a future life. Here was a crisis in the rich 
man's life. He obeyed the summons of nature, and 
stepping down from his throne of gold, he fell upon his 
knees, to worship the innocence and helplessness of little 
children J Into their laps he poured the splendid for- 
tune of a toilsome and care-fraught life ; earned on many 
occasions by the sweat and agony of the heart. There 
is nothing so potent as sickness, or affliction, to melt 
the obduracy of the feelings, and open the closed avenues 
to tenderness, to sympathy and love : it makes the stern 
man mild and melting as a child ; and in old age, ap- 
proximates us to the susceptibility of youth, or infancy. 
Such was no doubt the revolution wrought in the nature 



226 BIOGRAPHY OF 

of Girard. His heart became renovated to its pristine 
virtue and humanity \ and he who was known to have 
no feeling before this disaster, became suddenly pos- 
sessed of the noblest sympathies, urging him to the 
most sublime endowments of philanthropy. What a 
splendid tribute of latent religion to the holy instincts 
of our nature. We here behold the true religion. 
Here was the real voice of God, bowing down the heart 
of the mighty man to give to naked and destitute babes 
what he would have refused to kings, to kindred, to 
clergy, or to friends. 

It has been urged, that there is no merit in parting 
with that, at death, which we can no longer hold : but 
there surely is the highest merit in giving our wealth a 
proper, useful, and beneficent direction. As he could 
no longer hold it, he was bound to bequeath it, under 
two obligations of moral and social force. First, taking 
care that it should not annoy society; and second, that it 
might benefit society. He has fulfilled both of these 
conditions, of a good citizen, a philanthropist, and a 
philosopher. 

And why should not Stephen Girard connect his 
name with so noble a benefaction, which is destined to 
endure forever ? Could he — yes — how could he avoid 
it ? A College was to be endowed, and it must have 
some name. Should he baptize his child by the name 
of another man ? Assuredly not ; and whatever envy 
or bigotry may say, to disparage his great deeds, the 
hearts of generation after generation, will enbalm him 
in their affections ; and even the glory of the Caesars 
shall fade away and be forgotten, when the lustre of the 
name of Stephen Girard shall remain undimmed and 
entire. 

Yes, his Will speaks to us in a noble, an exalted, and 
a sublime strain : effusing the philosophy of Plato, 
blended with the moral admonitions and sage maxims of 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 22/ 

Seneca. It says to his kinsmen — there is something more 
precious and more binding than the ties of consanguinity 
— Virtue ! It says to avarice^- why should I increase 
your hoards, already useless from idle distension, and 
bloated into the insolence of oppressive pride ! It says to 
high-strung manhood — depend upon your own energies, 
and your reward will come, sooner than if you watch the 
fall of the fruit, which the slightest breeze of caprice may 
waft from your hand into the lap of another ! It says to 
sloth — arise from your slumbers, buckle on the armour of 
prudence, seize the weapons of industry, hie ye to the 
field of enterprise, and ye will win the battle of wealth. It 
says to priestcraft — let virtue and industry prosper, and 
come to perfection, without influencing them to madness 
by beatific visions, or idle dreams — metaphysical subtle- 
ties, and incomprehensible dogmas ! It says to the lowly 
and obscure — shake off your despondency and apprehen- 
sions : arise, and start in the race of fortune and renown ; 
the door is open to merit j brace your nerves to perse- 
verance and worth — industry and temperance, will lead 
you to the high places of the world ! In fine, it speaks a 
language of wisdom and of virtue, intelligible, eloquent, 
and exciting, to all who are susceptible of noble impres- 
sions — who can be incited to action by great examples, 
or stimulated to competition by the splendor of renown. 

Indeed, there is no condition of life, or degree of under- 
standing that this Will does not address a wholesome and 
instructive lesson to. It is based upon the enterprise of 
youth, and the industry of manhood. It inculcates in the 
most powerful language, the forcible lesson of self-depen- 
dence, volition of character, and independent existence. It 
rebukes luxury in her saloons of satiety, and satirises 
pomp in the gaudy glitter of her lofty equipage. 

No man ever before, perhaps, made a will which af- 
fords so striking an illustration and commentary on his 

u 2 



228 BIOGRAPHY OF 

life, as Stephen Girard. The general and great leading 
principle of utility is maintained in every part. His 
principal endowment is that of his Orphan College, for 
which he appropriates in the outset two millions of dol- 
lars. A minute criticism of the style of the Will is 
properly within the purview of this work, for this is the 
touchstone of his character ; yet it must be lamented, 
that this important instrument is deficient to a most 
lamentable and litigious degree, in those properties of 
perspicuity and plainness, which so eminently charac- 
terised the style of Mr. Girard himself. 

It is in the construction of systems, where the harmo- 
ny of parts conduces to the efficiency of one common 
end, that we must look for greatness of conception, and 
manifestation of genius. This Girard has fully dis- 
played in the method he has laid down for the organi- 
zation of his College. 

The regulations he has prescribed on this subject, 
especially for the domestic police and discipline of the 
orphans, indicate a vigour of mind and a correctness of 
observation, that must extort unqualified applause from 
every impartial man. Strictly a republican in all his 
ways, his habits, his principles, and his conduct, Girard 
seems to have been fully sensible of the vast importance 
of instilling and cherishing habits of simplicity in the 
minds of our youth, corresponding to the simple gran- 
deur of our free and equal institutions. Acting in this 
spirit, to the attainment of this end, he has prescribed 
that the pupils shall be " clothed with plain, but decent 
apparel — no distinctive dress ever to be worn." They 
are to have no badge of poverty clinging about their 
persons, to degrade their minds ; nor marks of supe- 
riority to inspire ideas of pride and vanity. A regula- 
tion more sanative and beneficial than this, in a young 
community, many of whom may enter it, impressed 



STEPHEN GTRARDe 229 

with the recollections of former wealth, or of past hu- 
miliation and poverty, cannot well be imagined, and for 
the devisement of which he is worthy of all gratitude 
and praise. 

In another of his excellent regulations, we behold the 
profound habits of his philosophical observation, and 
his extensive knowledge of the human mind. He says, " I 
would have them taught facts and things, rather than 
words or signs." He had seen the mummery of mere 
verbal knowledge ; and had observed how little it con- 
duced to benefit, or embellish society ; and yet, to learn 
which consumed the most important and precious pe- 
riod of life. This is a great abuse of what is sometimes 
termed " Education," and which, in the opinion of Gi- 
rard, was worse than even no education at all. He thus 
aimed at a fashionable error, a merited, and it may be 
hoped, a fatal stroke of reprehension, to demolish the 
entire system of mere verbal instruction, by which the 
youthful understanding is filled with sounds without cor- 
responding ideas, and signs that represent little more 
than sounds. 

By this recommendation, however, he is not to be 
supposed as throwing any discreditable imputation upon 
the Greek and Latin languages. A fair interpretation 
will restrict his remarks to general knowledge, which 
forms the context of this part of the Will, and to which, 
of course, his observation has direct reference. 

In relation to the languages of Greece and Rome, his 
sentiments are extremely liberal for one who knew no- 
thing of their tongues, little of their history, and per- 
haps less of their literature : and obviously invest the 
corporation of the city with a discretionary power, to 
introduce those languages into the course of studies at 
their pleasure. He says, "I do not forbid, but I do not 
recommend the Greek and Latin languages." What is 
not forbidden, may, of course, be allowed, under that 



230 BIOGRAPHY OF 

general clause of " the various branches of a sound educa- 
tion^ which he so emphatically prescribes for the pu- 
pils. That can hardly be called a sound education which 
would exclude the Greek and Latin. 

But his language on this point will not admit of a 
doubt as to the discretionary power vested in the corpo- 
ration to introduce those languages. "I do not recom 
mend — but I do not forbid," expresses all that is neces- 
sary to a full discretion. On this score, then, prejudice 
will assail him in vain. With a diffidence that does honou 
to his character, on those branches of knowledge, he 
confesses his incompetency to judge $ and leaves it to 
those better qualified, to determine whether to intro- 
duce or exclude them. 

The sincerity of his republican principles, and the 
ardour of his attachment to our free constitutions, are 
admirably displayed in the close of the 7th section of 
his regulations relative to his College $ and prove that 
he was quite as anxious to have his scholars made good 
republicans, as good students, and useful citizens. " And 
especially I desire," says Mr. Girard, "that by every 
proper means, a pure attachment to our republican insti- 
tutions, and to the sacred rights of conscience, as guaran- 
teed by our happy constitutions, shall be formed and fos- 
tered in the minds of the scholars." 

The scope and depth of his observations, as expressed 
in his Will, are remarkable, and display, in a peculiar 
manner, the singular force of his genius. His reward 
of merit is of the noblest and most beneficial character, 
appealing directly to the pride, and exciting the ambi- 
tion of his students. He says — " Those scholars who 
shall merit it, shall remain in the College until they at- 
tain the age of fourteen and eighteen years, when they 
shall have the choice of a profession"'— consulting, as far 
as prudence shall justify it, the inclinations of the several 
scholars, as to the occupation, art, or trade to be learned:. 



1 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 231 

thus displaying an extent of liberality, and a true philo- 
sophical perception of the nature of the human mind, 
not often found in the mere man of trade, or the devotee 
of wealth and commerce. In this he has opened a wide 
field for the cultivation of genius, extending to every 
department of art, science, and business. By which he 
may be the means of founding a school of American 
painters, sculptors, and architects ; or giving a fresh im- 
pulse, and adding new excellence to the useful arts and 
sciences. 

Above all his other regulations, however, in wisdom, 
humanity, and foresight, rises that which restricts the 
managers of his college "to mild means of reforma- 
tion." Unbounded admiration and gratitude are due to 
this great philanthropist, for this humane and rational 
clause of his great testament. He merely ordains, that 
if any should unfortunately become unfit companions for 
the rest, "that they should no longer remain therein." 
Can the fathers and the mothers of the rising genera- 
tion, hesitate to pour their heartfelt benedictions upon 
the humane founder of this excellent institution ? 

In this simple regulation, we have an absolute prohi- 
bition of corporeal punishment | — a practice as degrad- 
ing to the scholar, as it must be painful at all times to the 
teacher. It was hardly to be expected, that a man of 
such austere feelings as Girard, would have bestowed 
attention upon this moral feature of school discipline ; — 
and it was still less to be expected, that after it had re- 
ceived his consideration, he would decide against severi- 
ty, and in favour of moral punishment alone, by appeal- 
ing to the pride, ambition, or shame of the pupil. It must 
be confessed, that where these qualities do not reside, 
they cannot be appealed to, and hence it may be alleged, 
corporeal penalties are the best, because they are univer- 
sal ! But it seems better to lose such altogether, than to 
risk the total destruction of the finest minds, by a harsh- 



232 BIOGRAPHY OF 

ness which might obtund, or drive them to despair. 
Durness cannot be quickened or inspired by beatings 
but genius may be crushed by it, because attended by 
sensibilities of the most delicate and shrinking kind : It 
would prove of more benefit to mankind, to preserve one 
mind of the latter description, than to flog a thousand 
dunces into the first elements of knowledge. 

Extending even his views to the importance of having 
his great endowments placed in the hands of faithful and 
competent managers, he has wisely addressed an im- 
pressive exhortation to his fellow-citizens, M to observe 
and evince especial care and anxiety in selecting members 
for their city councils, and other agents" — an exhorta- 
tion which, we hope and believe, will not be lost upon 
the enlightened and virtuous community to whom he has 
so munificently bequeathed his fortune. The stewardship 
of funds so immense as those devised by Girard, and the 
extensive expenditures and agencies, contracts, and jobs, 
to which they must necessarily give birth, presents a 
fearful temptation to human cupidity ; and ought to rouse 
to wholesome action all those moral energies of public 
virtue, which prove the shield of society, against those 
abuses to which important fiscal trusts are always 
liable. 

A corporation that is now to become the agent for the 
accomplishment of all the designs and improvements of 
Stephen Girard, under his bequests of ten millions of dol- 
lars, ought certainly to be chosen with a single eye to 
their intellectual and moral qualifications for the various 
functions which, under this new aspect of things, they will 
be called upon to perform. It is manifest, that all party 
and political considerations ought to be excluded from a 
trust of so exalted and responsible a character, as will 
hereafter be confided to the Councils of the city of Phila- 
delphia : and that, in place of dividing off into political 
parties, on the occasion of our annual city elections, the 



STEPHEN GIRARB. 233 

great body of the citizens ought to be assembled indis- 
criminately for the purpose of selecting candidates for 
the municipal government. That such was the wish of 
Girard, cannot admit of a doubt, from the nature of the 
injunction he has here addressed to the public — actuated 
by the best motives, and governed by those wise and 
just views, which he was so capable of taking, and which 
he was so much in the habit of forming, even upon the 
most abstruse, complicated, and difficult subjects. It is 
indubitably due to him, as the author and parent of this 
noble benefaction, that his wishes should be consulted in 
all points, which have an obvious tendency to advance 
the public good, and secure society in the cultivation of 
knowledge, morals, and industry. 

The magnitude of these great public bequests, espe- 
cially that of his college — the extensive ramifications of 
its influence — its liability to waste, dilapidation, and 
misappropriation, had long engrossed the meditations 
of Girard, and suggested to him the best means of pre- 
venting the abuse of his bequests $ and we find that his 
admirable sagacity had penetrated to every expedient, 
that was calculated to avert fraud, extravagance, and 
speculation. For this purpose, he has wisely and provi- 
dently directed, that all the accounts accruing from this 
benefaction, are to be kept separate and distinct from 
all others : and that an annual exhibit shall be made to 
the legislature, detailing the state of the funds, and the 
progress of the college ; also, stipulating for a separate 
bank account, and separate books, together with other 
provisions, which bespeak his characteristic prudence, 
foresight, and precaution. In all this, we discern a 
mind aware of the great importance of the trust he 
was about to confide to the city ; his intense solicitude 
for the accomplishment of his great plan of education j 
and his apprehension, as to the possible misapplication 
of so vast an amount of property, by agents to be cho- 



234 BIOGRAPHY OF 

sen by the precarious, uncertain, and perhaps, incompe- 
tent members of a public corporation, too liable to be 
elected from factious motives, and having, in general, 
little virtue beyond the mere party adhesion of the hour $ 
and seldom a superflux of talent, for the discharge of 
extra and higher duties. It is computed, that the sum 
he has bequeathed for the sustenance, clothing, and in- 
struction of three hundred poor orphan children of the 
male sex, between the ages of six and ten years, will 
amount to between three and four millions of dollars ; 
and will be adequate to maintain a much greater num- 
ber of pupils, than that designated in the Will, as the 
minimum amount. A benefaction of this character, to 
so vast an extent of capital; leading to consequences 
so beneficial and wholesome to society, is, perhaps, 
without an example in the history of mankind, and mani 
fests what the testator estimated as the chief good of 
this world — knowledge, and next to knowledge, indus- 
try. 

With his characteristic absence of all ostentation, 
and that peculiar mixture of modesty and humility, 
which marked his course through life, Mr. Giraru nas 
devised in specific sums, less than three millions of dol- 
lars, whilst his estate will probably yield ten millions $ 
thus, leaving the far greater portion of his wealth un- 
mentioned, except by these general terms, necessary to 
accomplish their proper destination to the objects de- 
signed by him : first, the enlargement of the capacity of 
his college, for charitable instruction $ and second, the 
improvement of the city. 

I consider this an important feature of his character, 
which ought not to be overlooked. Girard never over- 
rated himself — he never overrated his property. On 
the contrary, he invariably underrated himself and under- 
valued his fortune. I ascribe this peculiarity to that 
diffidence, which is the natural concomitant of genius $ 



s 

i 

f 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 235 

and which, in so eminent a manner, marked the career 
of this plain, humble, and great man. 

His whole nominal bequests amount to a less sum than 
his bank capital alone ! 

But he was fully aware of this fact; and he was care- 
ful to guard every avenue for the proper application of 
the residue of his property. 

This conduct conveys an admirable lesson to man- 
kind : to be careful to do, instead of anxious to parade 
what you do, or assume appearances of wealth, not jus- 
tified by facts \ but, on the contrary, to appear less than 
you are in reality, so that your merit may at all times 
appear greater, when your real worth is sifted beyond 
its external indications. 

The same trait' may be observed of him, in respect 
to his skill and knowledge, upon the subject of educa- 
tion. Having no children himself, one would suppose 
he knew little either of the theory or practice, of rear- 
ing them | but in this, as in other particulars, his real 
far exceeded his apparent knowledge. 

When we reflect how few fathers have a just and ra- 
tional conception of the importance of education, even 
to their own offspring, we cannot but feel a high degree 
of admiration at the enlarged views of that philanthro- 
pist, who should calculate its benefits for the poor chil- 
dren of a whole community ; and, instead of leaving 
his money to erect prisons, endow alms-houses, found 
churches, or systematise charities, has, with the sagacity 
of the true statesman, and the benevolence of an enlight- 
ened lover of hib h kind, commenced the melioration of 
mankind at the right end $ and flung into the fountain 
of life, the sweet infusion of knowledge, virtue, indus- 
try, and temperance. Here is a display of practical 
political economy, which admits of no controversy, as 
| to the soundness of the principle, or the salutary nature 

X 



236 BIOGRAPHY Off 

of its tendency. It goes immediately to arrest the flow 
of crime, pauperism, idleness, and ebriety : it tends 
directly to cut off the supply of vicious material for the 
alms-house, penitentiary, and the grave ; whilst, on the 
other hand, it invigorates the bone and muscle of socie- 
ty, by an increase of the most productive of all the so- 
cial virtues. Nor can it be too frequently extolled in 
Stephen Girard, that he, at all times, and in all that he 
did, kept his mind intently fixed upon the production of 
wealth, and the promotion of utility— unon habits of in- 
dustry, combined with the practic ol economy, the ac- 
quisition of knowledge, and that course of life, which 
conduces equally to the health of the body and the mind $ 
for it is only by the unceasing activity of both, that our 
feeble nature can be preserved in that state of compara- 
tive perfection, which enables us to discharge our duty 
to God, to society, and to our families. 

It is no ordinary degree of merit in a man, not pro- 
fessedly scientific, to be able to detect the real errors 
that prevail in the structure of society, and to know, at 
what point to apply the remedy. Those vulgar errors 
that impel weak minds, to bestow their wealth indiscri- 
minately, and on all occasions of the failure of heirs, 
upon churches and charities, under the fallacious idea, 
that, by so doing, they are applying a remedy to the 
evils of the social system, were early detected, and cau- 
tiously shunned by Mr. Girard. He would as soon have 
thought of commencing the building of a house at the 
top, as to attempt to correct the social evils at the wrong 
end. He perceived, that to have a wholesome stream 
of human action, the waters must be purified at the 
fountain head. Charities might furnish a momentary 
relief ; but, if idleness was a habit* charities must con- 
stantly be applied to be effectual — whereas, industry and 
knowledge, once implanted in the mind by education, 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 237 

induce habits that check and prevent those crimes that 
ultimately give birth to asylums, alms-houses, and peni- 
tentiaries. 

If those who are entrusted with the enactment of laws 
for society, were equally enlightened with Stephen Gi- 
rard, upon this highly important subject, we should 
have more efforts made to propagate knowledge, and 
disperse industry among the people, on a more equitable 
principle than the extortion of capital, and the power 
of monopoly ; and hear less of laws for the punishment 
of crime, the piovi 'on of the poor, and the salvation of 
the reformed through the benefaction of churches, or 
the endowments of visionary charities. 

Many have presumed to judge of, and to condemn 
Stephen Girard in the abstract, upon some one general 
principle, or detached action of his life. This cannot, 
however, be done, without an equal infraction of the 
voice of reason, and the principles of justice. 

No man would be willing to abide by so partial a test 
in his own case $ and let us be careful not to violate that 
cardinal doctrine of life, "of doing unto others, as we 
desire that others should do unto us." This maxim is 
so sound, that were the most perfect man that ever lived, 
to be judged by any other, he must inevitably be con- 
demned. It is only by an impartial view of the whole 
life of an individual, allowing the virtues of one period, 
to balance the vices of another, that we can properly 
appreciate the true merit of their characters. 

It is only by this method of a close investigation and 
extensive comparison, that we can justly appreciate the 
conduct and actions of men — attain to a proper concep- 
tion of their real characters, and assign to them the 
proper degrees of merit and just measure of applause 
to which they may be rationally entitled. We have 
seen, that in his life-time, instead of riding down socie- 
ty with the power of his wealth, as upstart pride is apt 



238 BIOGRAPHY OF 

to do, and as sudden wealth in feeble minds, prompts 
with the strongest instincts and passions of our nature ; 
that instead of rioting, carousing, or affecting airs of 
pomp and superiority- — that instead of retiring to idleness, 
to act the silly part of a dignified gentleman, he kept on in 
the even path of life — pursuing the quiet and unobtrusive 
walk of the humble French mariner, who had touched our 
shores as a cabin-boy; and who had once inhabited the 
meanest house to be found in Water street; and that 
when at last death overtook him, he found his victim 
in the midst of his labours, adding to the opulence and 
comfort of society, or projecting schemes for the bene- 
fit of those who were to come after him. It is in this 
sense, that we allege his Will to be a practical posthu- 
mous illustration of his course through life. Instead of 
making his fortune a source of aggression to society, we 
have seen him circulate it freely, in making the most 
splendid improvements that adorn the city; and loaning 
it through his bank, to the mercantile, trading, mecha- 
nical, and manufacturing interests. 

No one will dispute his power and right, to have 
given what direction he pleased to his property. Had 
he been so inclined, he could have made it the basis of 
an aristocratic family, sufficiently powerful to shake the 
very foundations of our Republic; or, to corrupt and pol- 
lute society to the core. Had he been so disposed, at the 
time that he made his Will, to endow one family with his 
immense wealth, he could have found thousands of the 
ready votaries of riches, glad to assume and perpetuate his 
name, in consideration of the aristocratic power, which 
his prodigious fortune would have conferred upon them. 
Let us fancy that he had made this disposition of his pro- 
perty, and let us contrast such a bequest with his en- 
dowment of a College Orphan Assylum, for the poor 
children of the present and all succeeding generations. 
Let us fancy an upstart and pampered heir, giving full 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 239 

loose to all the profligacy of fashion, ton, lust, debauche- 
ry, gaming, seduction, adultery, and vice. Or, on the 
other hand, let us imagine him struck by a visitation of 
ghostly dreams, to found a church, or to institute a mo- 
nastery, where monks might fatten in affected prayers, 
or idleness be consecrated to worship by a rich patron ! 
Or, that under the influence of ignorance and limited 
views of the structure and elements of society, he had 
left two millions to build a jail, or a poor house; thus 
offering a premium to crime and a temptation to lazi- 
ness. And let us contrast such a disposal of his wealth, 
to that which he has actually made, and who will give 
his verdict against him ? 

Or, let us suppose him to have been a true son of the 
Church of Rome, and that he had bequeathed his for- 
tune to the Pope, or for the embellishment of the Vati- 
can, or St. Peters. And what would have been our si- 
tuation, even as a nation, to have been stripped of ten 
millions of specie, to be shipped out of the country, 
within the short space of a year, causing general bank- 
ruptcy, and impoverishment $ and leaving our banks 
with scarcely a copper coin, to disprove the fallacy of 
our ficticious wealth. Or, let us imagine him struck 
with the horrors of a guilty conscience, convulsed by 
the apprehension of endless torments hereafter; and be- 
queathing his wealth to the priesthood, to pray him out 
of those terrors here, or interceding with the judge of 
the world to come, to mitigate the intensity of his future 
torments ? What would be the public opinion of such a 
poor, feeble, and drivelling victim of superstition ? Even 
the clergy, who may now hate, but respect — would even 
in that case, have despised him for destitution of under- 
standing, and cowardice of heart \ at the same time, that 
they would have censured the waste and misapplication 
of his immense wealth. 

x2 



240 BIOGRAPHY OF 

Or, let us yet indulge in another frolic of imagina- 
tion, and suppose that he left his property to build a 
monument to his own memory, in his large square of 
Market and Chesnut streets, between Eleventh and 
Twelfth. Here puerility would have been so mixed up 
with vanity of the lowest order, as to have exposed him 
to unmitigated contempt. Yet nothing would be more 
natural — nothing is more common among the rich, es- 
pecially when destitute of merit, to consecrate their own 
memory. The story of Goldsmith, in the Citizen of the 
World, relating to the finest monument in Westminster 
Abbey, is but one of ten thousand, in which the con- 
sciousness of riches inspires the vain idea of greatness ; 
or, where wealth attracts flatterers, to persuade the pos- 
sessor that he is superior to common mortals. The 
superiority of Girard's mind placed him equally above 
the weakness of the one, or the folly of the other, of 
these common, but contemptible delusions. 

In place of this, he has endowed a young and thriving 
republic of wisdom and virtue, destined to give in count- 
less numbers to the country, heroes, philosophers, mer- 
chants, manufacturers, and mechanics ; filling every 
avenue of society with industry, art, science, and intel- 
ligence. The national utility of such an institution at 
once consecrates his name to merit and renown. From 
this institution alone, his wealth will circulate through- 
out all the channels of industry and trade, forever $ fer- 
tilising not only the minds and hearts of the orphan com- 
munity of our metropolis ; but extending its beneficial 
influence throughout the entire circle of talent, learning, 
industry, science, and worth. It operates efficiently 
in every direction. It will incite the ambition of teach- 
ers, and stimulate eminent men of talents to become pro- 
fessors, in the higher branches of the moral and physi- 
cal sciences, in which chairs will of course be establish- 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 241 

ed ; such as Political Economy, Ethics, Logic, Belles 
Lettres, Mathematics, and Moral Philosophy : all of 
which are indubitably essential to a sound education. 

When it is considered that the organization of this 
College is to devolve upon the future Councils of the 
City ; and that much of its usefulness will necessarily be 
left to their discretion, the importance of having a por- 
tion of competent literary men in that body must be self- 
evident. 

A mere primary school was not the intention of the tes- 
tator ; for after enumerating the general circle of the 
sciences, which he ordains shall be taught in it, he 
concludes by the sweeping clause, " and such other learn- 
ing and science as the capacities of the several scholars 
may merit, or warrant." Thus clearly instituting all 
the professorships which usually attach to a college of the 
most universal and exalted character ; such as Cam- 
bridge, Harvard, and Princeton, with the exception of 
the oriental tongues. 

It may be observed, that the Girard College prepares 
youth in general for trades, not for the professions ; al- 
though it cannot be supposed, that the professions are 
excluded, if the inclination of the pupil prompts him to 
enter that dangerous labyrinth of indolence and mis- 
taken respectability. The delusion of pride and vanity 
which crowds the avenues of physic and law in this 
country, with an idle, superfluous, and burdensome 
number of those professions, may be classed among the 
vulgar errors of a people in general more intelligent than 
vain. Girard saw this popular delusion, and pitied it 
as a fungus-pride, which deserved no encouragement 
on his part. 

When it is considered that labour is the source of all 
wealth } and that the highest merit is that which culti- 
vates the fruits of the earth for the sustenance of man ; 
this feature of his great institution, will command our un- 



242 BIOGRAPHY OF 

qualified admiration : for next in merit to agriculture, 
are those trades and arts which minister to our neces- 
sities and wants. 

Every man should give his son a trade, as a necessary 
part of education $ either agriculture, architecture, or 
some mechanical occupation. If he begins at this point, 
and has a genius for higher attainments, or more intel- 
lectual pursuits, he will, by the force of his own mind, 
break the shell of his useful occupation, and ascend on 
the wings of imagination, to higher regions. But if he 
commences at the highest point, and being disqualified 
by want of talent to progress, the consequences are fatal $ 
for he will then retrograde, and become a burden to him- 
self as well as the community. But every degree of ca- 
pacity is qualified for labour; every man may make 
a good farmer, or a sound and industrious mechanic ; 
and as the greatest curse to any country is a large com- 
munity of unproductive gentlemen, attached to profes- 
sions that they do not follow, or whose over-crowded 
numbers exclude them from occupation. 

False pride is the parent of many evils. When far- 
mers and mechanics grow rich, they imagine they will 
increase the respectability of their families by making 
their sons lawyers, doctors, and merchants. This is 
is sheer delusion ; for the highest point of respectability 
is honest industry. True, knowledge, science, intellect, 
and genius, command esteem, because they are rare gifts ; 
but these gifts do not necessarily attend the professions. 
We have reason to believe that these were the ideas 
of Stephen Girard ; for he always contended for the 
gradation of ability, and the creative power of real merit 
to win its way to its proper destination, or station in 
life. 

The gradual, but extensive influence which such a 
system must ultimately exercise upon the literature of 
our country, presents the most gratifying prospect to 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 243 

the lover of letters, and sheds additional lustre upon the 
unostentatious founder of this humane asylum. 

The criticism of envy will always find some weak 
points in the best characters and noblest deeds at which 
to cavil i and on this occasion, it has been made a sub- 
ject for censure, that he did not augment his private 
legacies at the expense of his public benefactions. But 
it cannot be alleged, that he has gratified his ambition 
of public usefulness, at the cost of kindness or consan- 
guinity. He has remembered his kinsmen, and his do- 
mestics, with a kindly, though not a profuse spirit of 
liberality | still carrying out his real character through 
his Will) and not more disposed to give away his wealth 
to individuals after his death, than when living. No 
man knew better than Stephen Girard, the wholesome 
difference between a pampered enjoyment of existence, 
under the sedative influence of indolence lulled into tor- 
por by the consciousness of fortune, and the rational 
application of a philosophical competency to the reason- 
able pleasures of life, still leaving on the mind that spur 
to exertion, which constitutes so much of the comfort 
and happiness, as well as excellence of the human cha- 
racter : for without some looming prospect, or exciting 
hope in the distance of life, how poor and chilling would 
be the highest stations of honour and competency to 
which we can attain ! 

Nothing in life tends so much to fling over the brightest 
minds the pervading chill and dampness of ennui, ap- 
proaching to despair and melancholy, as the want of an 
occupation ; rich idleness, or vacant luxury, tired of the 
expedients of pleasure, and satiated with variety of every 
species of gratification, whether belonging to the fancy, 
the passions, or the intellect. I have seen this sort of 
opulent misery in so many endless shapes of agony and 
torture, proceeding from the listlessness of the mind, 
and the torpor of the body, from the mere want of a 



244 BIOGRAPHY OF 

care, that although the want of wealth is a source of 
much care, yet I feel satisfied, that opulence without 
occupation is a curse. 

I have seen gentlemen encumbered with wealth resort 
to the patronage of the fine arts for amusement and 
diversion, as combining taste with intellect and refine- 
ment ; and as calculated to arrest the downward tenden- 
cy of the mind to grovelling passions. It was a laudable 
and noble direction of the faculties of wealth ; but it 
seldom proved successful in nine out of ten cases. The 
languor and ennui still continued. Parties tired j paint- 
ings grew irksome $ statues failed to excite ; and the 
most precious rarities of the oldest masters, at last be- 
came as dull as the head of General Jackson on a weath- 
er-beaten sign post. 

The cause was radical in the constitution of our na- 
ture, to which labour is essential, and the occupation of 
the mind as necessary to comfort, as the gratification 
of hunger and thirst is to the health of the body. Con- 
vinced as Girard was of these truths, no marvel that he 
was so penurious of his legacies to friends and kins- 
men. 

Besides these views of life, which regulated his con- 
duct towards his connexions ; he was himself by nature, 
an economist, and had acquired sufficient science, from 
the familiar occurrences of domestic life, to know, that 
to the possessor, the sum of property saved from con- 
sumption, was equal to the same amount of value pro- 
duced ; and that to a mind properly adjusted, the posses- 
sion often thousand dollars was equal to fifty thousand 
in the hands of a vicious, prodigal, or improvident pro- 
prietor. Hence, the limited amount of his legacies to 
his kinsmen, was, no doubt, the offspring of his philoso- 
phy, and not the verdict of any unkind or jealous feeling. 
Indeed, this must have been the cause ; for ceasing him- 
self to hold it in possession, he could have no other mo- 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 24S 

tive but what flowed from a sincere desire for their wel- 
fare. It has been said, that he stinted his private bequests 
in order to gratify his ambition of fame, so that his pub- 
lic benefactions might not be diminished by his personal 
favours; but assuredly this is a frivolous imputation 
against one possessed of ten millions of dollars \ a tenth 
part of which applied to any public object would have 
immortalised his name for ever. 

Although it would not be consonant to human nature, 
to exclude ambition from the motives that led him to 
endow his Orphan College, and prescribe his city im- 
provements! yet it would be certainly unjust to say, 
that no softer or more laudable feeling blended with it 
to mitigate the rigour of coldness that he in some mea- 
sure manifested towards his relatives. Sympathy for 
the distresses of the destitute, must have had some share 
in this eccentric course of conduct. One, who from so 
early an age, had been constantly driven over the surges 
by the rudest tempests of life, it is but natural to con- 
clude, must often have felt the pinching gripe of want $ 
and it was doubtless in some measure from this recol- 
lection of his sufferings in early life, that he was induced 
so munificently to provide for the tender wants of the 
poor and destitute orphan. 

Charity, certainly, and not ambition, must have had 
a large share in his bequest of ten thousand dollars, for 
the purchase, out of the annual interest of that sum, of 
Wood, for distribution among poor white women, who 
are house or room-keepers, forever J If charity did not 
enter into this bequest, we shall look for it in vain, 
throughout the whole catalogue of human actions. 

But it is not in one measure alone, that we may chal- 
lenge envy to exhaust her worst detractions, against the 
benevolent motives of that excellent and extraordinary 
man. His first legacy of thirty thousand dollars to 
the Pennsylvania Hospital, is, in itself, evidence con- 



246 BIOGRAPHY o^ 

elusive, if evidence were wanting, of the humanity of 
his heart, and the purity of his feelings. Having in his 
own family, experienced the beneficent influence of this 
noble institution, he knew how to appreciate its value, 
and to facilitate and extend its usefulness, by endowing 
it with so large a portion of his wealth : subject to b< 
sure, to a small annuity of two hundred dollars per an- 
num, to his " black woman, Hannah;" to provide for 
whom, certainly manifests that kindness of heart, and 
warmth of benevolence, which, by the consent of all, 
is esteemed the most admirable trait in the human cha- 
racter. 

That he viewed every species of human affliction 
with an equal glance of compassion, is shewn by his 
legacy of twenty thousand dollars to the institution for 
the Deaf and Dumb, to which Pennsylvania stands in- 
debted — and it is a proud monument of her philanthro- 
py too — to the genius and exertions of Mr. David G. 
Seixas, now of New-York $ to whose industrious exer- 
tions and ingenious inventions, in the lowest infancy of 
its mute knowledge, I was an admiring witness ; and to 
whom we may justly apply the appellation of the father 
of this institution. 

In the same spirit of pervading humanity, he has left 
ten thousand dollars to the Orphan Asylum. Surely, the 
highest odour of the most divine charity, is diffused in 
these gifts. 

Every avenue through which virtue and knowledge 
might be promoted and infused, has Girard filled with 
a portion of his wealth $ not only relieving actual afflic- 
tion, but doing all in his power to remove the causes 
that lead to poverty, ignorance, and vice. Thus he has 
also bequeathed ten thousand dollars to the Lancaster 
Schools, " in the first section of the first school district 
of Pennsylvania." 

Nor did he forget the widows and children of those 



e 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 247 

hardy mariners, of whom he had been one, and to whom 
he was so largely indebted for his wealth $ for he also 
bequeathed to the Ship Master's Society, ten thousand dol- 
lars. 

This is certainly a noble trait in the mind of the old 
mariner. He did not forget the bufferings which he 
had undergone as a poor cabin-boy, when he became the 
owner of millions : and he looked back with a fellow- 
feeling to those destitute sons of Neptune, who might 
want the helping hand of a friend, in the hour of dis- 
tress. 

Girard, though not systematic, regular, or refined in 
his sympathies, manifests occasional gleams of feeling, 
that would seem to indicate a greater degree of benevo- 
lence in his bosom, than I have been able to think he in 
reality possessed. Posthumous actions, however, afford 
no conclusive testimony of the real tone of a man's 
heart. He gives then, perhaps, more from caprice, thari 
either feeling or principle ; though some feeling and 
some principle, must still have remained to regulate his 
bequests. It must ever be matter of surprise, however, 
than when he did leave his property in this way, that he 
did not leave more. 

It has been alleged against his sense of gratitude, as 
well as charity, that he did not bequeath something to 
the man who drove his chair j and who, on more than 
one occasion, saved his life. It would, indeed, have ex- 
hibited a most wonderful anomaly of character, had Gi- 
rard ever been rioted for gratitude, or a sense of service 
rendered. He, no doubt, included all the benefits his 
coachman could possibly do him, in the amount of his 
monthly wages. 

It must be confessed, that there is one legacy in this 
Will, which it is difficult to approve, and impossible to 
applaud ; couched as it is, in dubious language, and 
embarrassed with conditions that imply the absence of 

Y 



248 BIOGRAPHY OF 

sound morality in those for whose benefit it seems to be 
intended. I allude to the bequest of twenty thousand 
dollars to the Grand Lodge of Free-masons of Pennsyl- 
vania' — an institution, to say the least of it, whose use- 
fulness is not perceptible to the general mass of society $ 
and whose appropriation of funds to benevolent pur- 
poses, has been placed in some doubt, by the words in 
which the testator limits his legacy, in these terms- 
46 1 recommend to the several lodges not to admit tc 
membership, or to receive members from other lodges, 
unless the applicants shall absolutely be men of sounc 
and good morals." Now this recommendation would 
not have been necessary, had it been the practice of the 
lodge to confine membership to men of good morals } 
or, had sound morality been a qualification of member- 
ship* Girard was always prying into, and noting the 
defects of all that passed under his eye, and he must 
have observed a most frightful lack of moral demerit, 
to strike him so forcibly, as this recommendation neces- 
sarily implies it to have done. He manifests some little 
distrust too, where he says — "the interest whereof, shall 
be applied from time to time to the relief of poor and 
respectable brethren ; and in order that the real and be 
nevolent purposes of masonic institutions may be attain- 
ed, I recommend, that men only of good and sound mo- 
rals be admitted." The restriction of this bequest shows, 
that if it had been bequeathed in general terms, it woulc 
have been liable to an appropriation not consistent with 
the intention of the testator ; and, perhaps, in violation 
of the principles of morality, and the rectitude and uti- 
lity of human actions. 

In bright contrast to the dubious merit of this legacy, 
is that which follows it; so superior to its character, 
and yet so inferior in the sum allotted to its fulfilment, 
that I feel perplexed to account for a disparity in the 
amounts bequeathed apparently, in the immense ratio 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 249 

of the usefulness of their purposes. It was not customa- 
ry for Stephen Girard, to act on any principle which 
was inconsistent and incomprehensible, in his general 
course of action ; but on this subject of the Grand 
Lodge, he appears to have been biased by some myste- 
rious obligation, not perceptible to an uninitiated eye, 
and whose solution was not within the power of mere 
reason. It strikes me as very extraordinary, that Girard 
should bequeath so large an amount to an institution 
which he has depicted in no favourable colours ; and 
when he comes to mention an institution of a most sublime 
and noble tendency — a Public School for the Poor 
of Passyunk Township, he should shrink his legacy 
to the small sum of six thousand dollars. Every induce- 
ment existed to make this endowment adequate to the 
necessities and poverty of the district : for, heretofore, 
few districts in the state have been more destitute of the 
means of bestowing intellectual and moral instruction, 
upon the great proportion of the poor children of that 
section of the county. It was in this township that 
Mr. Girard's plantation was situated ; and its deficiency 
in this particular, must have been often observed, and 
deplored by him, during his long residence and frequent 
visits, which caused him to spend there, at least an equal 
portion of his time. But whilst we may regret, that 
this bequest was not on a scale corresponding to that 
of the Grand Lodge, still it has merits which secure the 
testator the gratitude and respect of his fellow-citi- 
zens. 

There is one part of his Will, however, which every 
friend to humanity must regret, with sincere and unaf- 
fected philanthropy, as having no tendency to promote 
the public wealth, and yet, at the same time, it subtracts 
from the ability he possessed of mitigating the sufferings, 
and relieving the wants of the poor. I allude to the 
following passage, in which he bequeaths the residue 



250 BIOGRAPHY OF 

of his property to the city — * to apply the income of the 
said fund— 3d. to enable the said corporation to im- 
prove the city property, and the general appearance of the 
city itself, and in effect, to diminish the burden of taxation, 
now most oppressive, especially on those who are the least 
able to bear it." 

There is here a general, and at the same time, a special 
appropriation of the residue of his estate — one is, to lessen 
the taxation of the poorer property holders, and the 
other to diminish the general burden of taxation — both 
blended with a third common object, to improve the 
city property ! Great confusion pervades this clause 
of the Will. It is self-evident, that money cannot at the 
same time be expended in improving the city property, 
and appropriated to the diminution of the taxes. Yet 
it is evident, that Girard intended to relieve the small 
property holders, and not the large ones, from the bur- 
den of taxation ; and this intention he would have ex- 
pressed in lucid and perspicuous terms, if he had com- 
posed the Will himself, instead of employing the tech- 
nical mind of a bewildered attorney. 

But as the Will now stands, one of the principal ob- 
jects of the testator, seems to be rendered entirely 
abortive. Even should the income of the residue of his 
estate prove adequate to diminish the burden of taxa- 
tion, it must operate equally on the rich and the poor ; 
and of course prove serviceable only to men of immense 
estates : to that description of men, whom Girard held 
in peculiar dislike, in relation to the heirship of his pro- 
perty. Thus, an amount of money which would have 
proved of immense benefit to society, in any aggregate 
form of philanthropic design, is now wholly lost to so- 
ciety by a subdivision among the opulent proprietors of 
real estate, so minute as to escape all sensible percep- 
tion ; but whatever may prove the extent of its benefits, 
it will be for the exclusive advantage of the rich; an 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 251 

object which Mr. Girard certainly never had in view, 
when he dictated his great and benevolent Will. 

To make this part of his last testament even more 
dubious and confused, the passage just quoted is fol- 
lowed by terms so loose, and language so universal, as 
to defy an impartial mind to make any specific appro- 
priation of his wealth. The Will continues in this 
manner — -"To ail which objects, the prosperity of the 
city, and the health and comfort of its inhabitants, I de- 
vote the said fund as aforesaid," fyc. 

How deeply is it to be lamented that conceptions so 
benevolent, and a Will so excellent and sublime as this, 
should be defaced by blemishes, not those of the testator, 
but of the attorney who drew up the instrument with 
so little skill and precision. 

Girard has been censured for not making a bequest to 
the French Benevolent Society, by those who have not 
properly considered his singular and eccentric charac- 
ter. But I cannot perceive any just cause to. blame him 
on this head. Girard was in every sense an American^ 
He had immigrated into this country long before the 
Revolution. He was always careful to repel the imputa- 
tion of being a Frenchman, and claiming at the same 
time, all the rights, as he possessed all the feelings of a 
native American. He was not clannish or national, in 
relation to the country that gave him birth 5 perhaps, 
because he had left it at so early an age ; for he never 
gave the preference to a Frenchman over an American, 
or seemed to regard them with more favour and affec- 
tion. He gave with unbounded liberality to general 
charities; but a French benevolent society, might have 
appeared too contracted to his mind, to be a special ob- 
ject of his regard ; or, as is most probable, he may have 
overlooked it through forgetfulness, and the pressure of 
business. 

Whilst on this subject, I cannot omit a few remarks 

y 2 



252 BIOGRAPHY OF 

upon an analogous trait of his mind, as manifested in 
that clause of his Will, which prohibits the Clergy 
from having any agency in his college, or ever being 
permitted to enter its walls ; a clause that has excited, 
and no doubt will ever continue to excite, much cen- 
sure and animadversion \ but which, correctly under- 
stood by impartial and liberal minds, will rather extort 
applause, than provoke rebuke, or justify reprehension* 
I think it was William Pitt, who remarked, that 
nothing so effectually disarms opposition, as granting 
the premises it contends for. Let us suppose that he 
had admitted the Clergy! Which sect would he have 
been disposed to admit in preference to the others? 
He was a Roman Catholic, having been born in the 
bosom of that church which gives birth to so many 
great men of liberal minds, and in the bosom of that 
church he was buried. Had this been the cast of his 
mind in reality, as a sectarian, he would have given a 
preference to the clergy of the Roman Catholic church — 
and given it justly — he would have ordained that the 
teachers of his college, should have been selected from 
the learned society of the Jesuits; and that all the im- 
posing ceremonials of that splendid church, should be 
observed within the walls of his college. And not 
only this ; but he would with equal reason and justice 
as a sectarian, have ordained that none but Roman Ca- 
tholic orphans should be admitted to its benefits. Such 
would have been the consequences of a sectarian spirit 
predominating in his mind $ but which it was too ex- 
pansive, too liberal, and too philanthropic, to generate 
and harbour. 

What would have been the state of public opinion had 
Stephen Girard so acted ? His right to have done it can- 
not be deputed ; and we owe it to the same spirit of phi- 
losophy which has induced him to exclude ecclesiastics 
that he did not organise it on the plan of the Roman 



STEPHEN GiRAttD. 2 $3 

Catholic Jesuit Seminaries, for the sole and exclusive 
benefit of that primary sect. 

Suppose them to have been admitted generally, which 
sect should have the preference by the Corporation ? 
This, of course, would have to be decided by the ballot- 
box, which elected members of councils, and we should 
then behold the pernicious combination of church in- 
fluence in state affairs ; where the clergy would be ac- 
tively electioneering for a council composed of the mem- 
bers of their own church, to the exclusion of all others. 
This mischief has already grown to a serious head, in 
the government of the city ; and we have too much 
cause to apprehend, that if not frowned down by public 
opinion, a few intriguing clergymen will at last be able 
to control the corporation at their pleasure. In respect 
to the Girard College, this influence would be the more 
pernicious, because the prefessors of the gospel so often 
combine the characters of tutors; and they would hence 
be stimulated by cupidity to exhaust every expedient to 
obtain the ascendency, in order to secure the patronage 
exclusively to their own sect. 

The object of Girard was obviously simple and grand. 
He designed to found a great moral and intellectual 
institution, to prepare the orphan boy for the active 
duties of life — not to make priests, but to make good 
citizens — to inculcate the love and practice of industry, 
truth, justice, and benevolence — and to instil into their 
minds all the various knowledge, science, and wisdom, 
which they might thirst to acquire. His aim was to 
add to the amount of productive industry, not to increase 
preaching, or multiply sects. In proof of this, we have 
his life and his testament to bear us out. 

There is another, and an obvious view, however, which 
the character of the testator prompts and authorises us 
to take in relation to the general principles that he has 
laid down for the government of his College. Girard 



254 saio&ttAPH? of 

throughout the whole of his long and eventful life, was a 
stern, consistent, and inflexible republican. He knew that 
the hierarchy of the church was essentially an aristocra- 
cy ; and that to admit them would be grossly inconsistent 
with that clause of his testament in which he ordains, 
" that by every proper means a pure attachment to our 
republican institutions, and to the sacred rights gf con- 
science, as guaranteed by our happy constitutions, shall 
be formed and fostered in the minds of the scholars." 

On this ground alone, as a devoted republican, he 
might be fully justified in his exclusion of clergymen, 
who, certainly, are not in general disposed to inculcate 
the principles of republican equality, or the love of re- 
publican institutions. Nor in avoiding this evil, does 
he necessarily manifest any disrespect towards indivi- 
dual clergymen. He viewed it as a system fraught with 
aristocracy, and he exercised his judgment and discre- 
tion so far as to say, that this system should receive no 
patronage from his fortune, so as to obstruct the design 
he had formed of rearing republican citizens for the use 
and ornament of the country. 

Perhaps there are few questions of so complicated and 
delicate a character as this of the clerical system, which, 
in the sense used by Mr. Girard, as I have here viewed it, 
has no more necessary connexion with religion, than the 
monastic system ; or any other mere institution of men* 
for mere pecuniary purposes. 

Girard had long observed, that it was the ambition 
of sects to multiply their numbers, and the ambition of 
the clergy to make proselytes to their peculiar doctrines. 
Justly, therefore, did he foresee, that if he admitted the 
clergy, the dogmas of conflicting sects would distract 
their attention without improving their minds $ but on 
the contrary, that they would divert their speculations 
from useful science, to visionary themes — thus innoculat- 
ing the tender intellect, while yet destitute of judgment 



i 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 255 

and knowledge, with theories, visions, fables, and fears, 
inimical to the proper formation of the understanding, 
on the basis of truth and philosophy. He, therefore, 
wisely concluded, that it would tend more to form the 
useful citizen, and better comport with the welfare and 
happiness of his pupils, to defer their religious studies 
until they emerged from the college walls ; when they 
were to be left at perfect liberty to throw themselves 
into the arms of any sect they might think proper — to 
become the dupe or the victim of the most artful, or the 
sincere convert of the most pious and holy. 

It certainly manifests but little confidence in the 
Christian system, to object to its being studied at the 
highest maturity of the understanding, when the preju- 
dices of pupilage have been shed for the clear and un- 
dimmed reason of manhood. Mr. Girard declares, that 
when they leave the college, they can " adopt such reli- 
gions as their matured reason may enable them to prefer/' 
That the prevalent system of religion cannot stand the 
scrutiny of " matured reason," ought not to be distrust- 
ed by those who have been specially appointed its min- 
isters. No one will maintain, that a boy of ten, twelve, 
or even eighteen years of age, can in general compre- 
hend the mysteries of the Christian faith ; or is compe- 
tent to select the sect to which he may desire to attach 
himself for the sake of earthly happiness, or heavenly 
consolation. Reflection, reading, knowledge, and some 
acquaintance with mankind, are necessary to confer this 
high qualification. 

It will be found, upon impartial investigation, that 
this exclusion of clergymen simply extends to one, and 
but one object — the volition of reason in the choice of a 
religion; and surprise may justly be expressed, that any 
should be found, in the present enlightened age, to deny 
this natural right to a free agent \ or, that such a regu- 



256 BIOGRAPHY OF 

latioi) should be construed into a direct hostility to all 
religion in the testator. That Girard had no religion, 
and looked upon its professors with no friendly eye, I 
well know ; but that this inhibition is an evidence of it, 
may reasonably be doubted. At any rate, there is no 
necessary connexion between his own ideas on this point, 
and the tenor of the Will in relation to religion and 
the clergy. 

It has, indeed, been made a question, but with what 
propriety I am not prepared to say— Whether the ex- 
clusion of clergymen from the College, taken in con- 
nexion with the context of that part of the Will which 
prescribes a moral education only — whether it does not 
necessarily inhibit the study of the Bible? The question 
appears to be one somewhat difficult of solution. The 
reasons assigned by the testator seem to show, that it 
was never intended to be admitted as a class-book ; and 
hermit must be remarked, that we are not to consult in- 
clination on this question, but to take the Will as we 
find it, and leave the consequences to him who made it. 
What are his words? — " I desire to keep the tender 
minds of the orphans who are to derive advantage from 
this bequest, free from the excitement which clashing 
doctrines and sectarian controversy are so apt to produce.' 9 
Here his object is explicitly avowed to be, a perfect 
calm of the mind from religious excitement, so that their 
studies might not be interrupted, nor their attention dis- 
tracted by — what? Not by the clergy, but by "clashing 
doctrines and sectarian controversy," which it is univer- 
sally conceded and proved, have their origin in the Bible 
itself according to the various constructions placed on 
doubtful texts, by men of different genius, and conflict- 
ing temperaments. It does not, to be sure, admit of 
positive decision, that the Bible is excluded by the tes- 
tator $ but the weight of presumptive testimony inclines 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 25? 

to that deduction, more than it tends to favour the ad- 
mission of the Bible. For, will not the study of the 
Bible produce all the effects so emphatically deprecated 
by the testator ? The Bible is the avowed theory of all 
that diversity of practice which distinguishes the various 
sects of the Christian church. It is translated in refer- 
ence to those sects. It is studied always in reference to 
some peculiar doctrine, which is the predominant fea- 
ture of some of the societies whith constitute the frac- 
tions of the unit church, or the belligerants of the trinU 
tarian mystery ! The subject is certainly a curious one 
for speculation ; and as the intention of a patron so opu- 
lent and benevolent as Stephen Girard, must excite the 
utmost deference and respect in those entrusted with the 
execution of his Will, it cannot be passed over without 
mature and solemn deliberation. From my personal 
knowledge of his opinions and his practice on these 
points, its decision to me would be attended with no 
difficulty ; but perhaps a paramount consideration of 
what is due to society may arise, and interpose to pre- 
vent the fulfilment of an intention that may be supposed 
by some to war against the moral interests of the com- 
munity in general. Whether such a consideration is 
admissible, however, in the execution of a trust of this 
nature, may reasonably be doubted. It is the voluntary 
and deliberate act of the Patron himself, for which he 
alone is responsible $ and the good he has done, and will 
do to all future generations, will enable him to bear the 
responsibility of an act, which, if it evinces any distaste 
for the dogmas of priestcraft, or the historical truths of 
religion, it does not necessarily impeach the sound prin- 
ciples of unaffected piety, such as warms the heart from 
the instinctive impulse of our nature ; and which the 
poor Indian, in the deep solitude of his dense forests, 
may feel as fervidly as the philosopher enthroned in the 
temple of science, or the humble peasant of the most 



258 BIOGRAPHY OF 

barbarous wilds, who never saw a priest, or perused a 
Bible. 

But this subject also presents itself in another light. 
Sectarian passions may be excited in the minds of the 
pupils by devout laymen, as well as the zealous ecclesias- 
tic; and well meaning, but misguided exhortors may 
obtain entrance, to inflame their religious passions $ 
ruffle their minds, and infect them with all the preju- 
dices and bigotry of the most intolerant sects — thus en- 
tirely defeating the object of the benevolent founder. 
It seems therefore, obvious, that if laymen should thus 
attempt to disturb the harmony of the college, that they 
would, of course, become obnoxious to the censure of 
the trustees, or the corporation $ so as to provoke an 
edict of total exclusion from the walls of the college, as 
visitors* or teachers. Yet, it has been contended for 
by some, that the Bible would be admitted as a text-book 
of morality, in the hands of lay preachers. But this very 
question, opens the door to all those disturbing and vexa- 
tious ^controversies, which embitter sectarian religion, 
turning the mind from useful studies to visionary spe- 
culations : the very mischief deprecated by the testator, 
and against which he thought he had fully provided : 
for, the act of admitting laymen to lecture on morality 
from the Bible, presents the identical case, against 
which he opposed the barrier of a prohibitory clause of 
his great Will. And as it is the spirit, as well as let- 
ter of his testament, which is to be fulfilled — the object 
must be accomplished by his legatees ; not merely by 
adhering to the means prescribed, but by the inhibition 
of all means, which would prevent its accomplishment, 
or defeat the end designed by the testator. This is the 
reasoning of good sense and sound logic $ and involves the 
principle of justice towards the deceased $ but how far it 
may be admissible on the score of religious argument, 
is not within my province to decide. The context to 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 259 

the whole question however, must be conclusive on the 
subject — that context was the life and opinions of the 
founder himself. 

I am aware of the opinion so generally prevalent, 
that the morality of the Bible is essential to a sound sys- 
tem of ethics: but it will hardly be denied, that a sound 
system of ethics may be taught, without immediate re- 
ference to either the Old, or the New Testament. It is 
a singular fact, and one not very frequently observed, 
that the decalogue may be strictly fulfilled, without our 
attainment to the character of a moral man ! 

It ordains that " thou shalt not steal. " Yet it does 
not prohibit fraud , knavery , forgery, imposition, and 
all kinds of unfair and double dealing. 

It ordains that "thou shalt not bear false witness" — 
yet it does not forbid slander, detraction, and calumny. 

It ordains that 4C thou shalt not commit adultery : — 
but it does not inhibit a plurality of wives, or the use of 
hand-maids, as practised by the Hebrews. 

It ordains "thou shall do no murder:" — yet it prohi- 
bits not war, violence, and all those depredations, that 
were perpetuated under the banner of the cross, by the 
Crusaders I 

The moral system of the Greeks and Romans, will be 
acknowledged by all, as infinitely superior to that 
sketched out by the decalogue. Epictetus, Socrates, 
Plato, and Seneca, furnish precepts infinitely superior for 
the moral perfection and government of man. So at 
least, thought Stephen Girard; and no doubt a majority 
of the world will corroborate his decision. 

During his life- time, we have seen that Girard had 
manifested at all times, the most lively, generous, and 
laudable solicitude for the improvement of the city ; and 
on every occasion, he demonstrated the sincerity of his 
attachment by the erection of elegant dwellings, sub- 
stantial stores, and splendid improvements. It was in 

Z 



p- 



260 BIOGRAPHY Of 

this liberal spirit of fond affection for his adopted city* 
that he has bequeathed ha'lf a million of dollars to lay 
out a new street, fronting the river Delaware", to be 
called "Delaware Avenue," and which, when accom- 
plished, will exhibit one of the most splendid improve 
ments ever projected to beautify the metropolis. Blend 
ed, however, with this scheme is another, included i 
the same legacy — to widen, regulate, and new pave 
Water Street, on a line with his dwelling-house an 
stores ; and other additions in the same vicinity, whic 
have the health and beauty of the city for their object $ 
such as to keep clean the docks, pull down all wooden 
tenements, pave the wharves, and widen the alleys. 

It would be vain to deny, that a mind thus excursiv 
yet minute— so comprehensive, yet so exact — so sweep- 
ing in its outline, yet so precise in its details, must have 
been great. Few men could even conceive and describe 
these improvements with the same precision and per- 
spicuity, much less bequeath so immense a property to 
carry them into execution. We here behold patriotism 
of the highest grade, combined with taste of the first 
order, which rivals the opulence, the genius, and the 
fame of Cosmo Be Medici, and the eternal monuments of 
his Florentine splendour. 

There may be those, who, at the first impression, will 
be disposed to look upon and estimate Stephen Girard 
as the mere worshipper of money, or as a sordid miser, 
sleepless from the feverish excitement of accumulation : 
but a closer, *a more expanded, and a more liberal view 
of the great philanthropist, will quickly dissipate this 
prejudice, and reveal his real character to all, in the co- 
lossal features of a public benefactor — a man equal in 
every respect to be the founder of a great city, and the 
patron of the children of the republic. The purity of 
his motives stands vindicated by his death. His sole 
object was the benefit of the city, and the health, com- 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 261 

fort, and convenience of the people who were to come 
after him to enjoy it* Public spirit, beneficence, philan- 
thropy, patriotism, can no farther go ! 

Extending his views beyond the city, he has become 
in his Will, the patron of internal improvement in the 
state; for which purpose he has bequeathed three hun- 
dred thousand dollars for improving, or extending the 
canal navigation of Pennsylvania. As a bonus, to in- 
duce the Legislature to enact laws, corresponding to 
his great system of improvement on the eastern front of 
the city, we hope and believe it was unnecessary ; but 
his language on this point is so peculiar, and so admira- 
bly displays his knowledge of the selfishness of our na- 
ture, as well as manifests his singular sagacity, that we 
cannot refrain from quoting it : 

44 1 give and bequeath to the Commonwealth of Penn- 
sylvania, the sum of 300,000 dollars, for the purpose of 
internal improvement by canal navigation, to be paid 
into the state treasury by my executors, as soon as such 
laws shall have been enacted by the constituted autho- 
rities of the said commonwealth, as shall be necessary, 
and amply sufficient to carry into effect, or to enable 
the constituted authorities of the city of Philadelphia to 
carry into effect the several improvements above specifi- 
ed ; namely, 1. Laws, to cause Delaware Avenue, as 
above described, to be made, paved, curbed, and lighted; 
to cause the buildings, fences, and other obstructions 
now existing, to be abated and removed ; and to prohi- 
bit the creation of any such obstructions to the eastward 
of said Delaware Avenue; 2. Laws, to cause all wooden 
buildings as above described, to be removed, and to 
prohibit their further erection within the limits of the 
city of Philadelphia ; 3. Laws, provided for the gradual 
widening, regulating, paving, and curbing Water street, 
as herein before described, and also of repairing the 
middle alleys, and introducing the Schuylkill water, 



262 BIOGRAPHY OF 

and pumps, as before specified— -all which objects may, 
I persuade myself, be accomplished on principles at once 
just in relation to individuals, and highly beneficial to 
the public : the said sum, however, not to be paid unless 
said laws be passed within one year after my decease*" 

In the event of the Legislature failing to pass the laws 
necessary to carry his Will into effect with reference to 
the improvements of the city $ he revokes the bequest 
of all his property, except his college ; and" bequeaths it 
to the United States, for purposes of internal improve- 
ment! So that whatever may be the disposition, or 
disinclination of his public legatees, to accept of his be- 
quests on the terms and conditions he has prescribed, it 
is barely possible for him to fail of having heirs. 

A peculiar feature in his Will, in relation to the pre- 
servation of his furniture, plate, books, &e. in one of 
the buildings attached to his orphan college, has excited 
much criticism, and drawn forth no small measure of 
reprehension. But it is not easy to see, why such a dis- 
position of his household effects, ought to be condemned 
at all ; much less visited with insidious imputations of 
vanity, or self-conceit. 

A glance at the Will, will show conclusively that his 
motive for this disposition of his furniture, was the 
same ruling principle that governed him through life — 
utility. He says, speaking of his college, "each build- 
ing should be, as far as practicable, devoted to a distinct 
purpose : that in one or more of those buildings, in which 
they may be most useful, I direct my executors to place 
my plate and furniture of every sort." 

In the same spirit, when disposing of his books and 
papers, he says — " A room (of the college) most suitable 
for the purpose, shall be set apart for the reception and 
preservation of my books and papers, and I direct that 
they shall be placed there by my executors, and carefully 
preserved therein." 



STEPHEN G1RARD. 263 

As it respects the disposal of his plate and furniture, 
their sale was not necessary to complete the funds for the 
payment of his legacies: and leaving no widow, and no 
children, whose feelings and affections could attach ideas 
of veneration, or value, to his domestic gods, he violated 
no sympathy, or feeling, on the part of his family. 

Their preservation in his college, as indicated in his 
Will, could not surely gratify the vanity, or enlarge 
the fame of a man, who had ten millions of dollars 
wherewith to build up a monument to his name, or 
gratify his love of notoriety. Surely his household 
furniture could not extend beyond the dimensions and 
durability his name would already command, without 
reference to so trivial an item of his estate. As to his 
ambition, or vanity, or conceit, these were already gra- 
tified to their utmost limits, by his great and leading 
bequests. What motive then, induced him to this spe- 
cial and singular appropriation of his domestic ef- 
fects, can only be conjectured ; but vanity certainly 
stands lowest on the scale, among all the causes that 
ingenuity can assign ; while we conjecture, then, let 
us conjecture what is probable, in preference to that 
which is absurd, or visionary. 

We may reasonably suppose, that he revolted from 
the idea of his old furniture, his linen, and his bedding, 
"going a begging," under the hammer of the auc- 
tioneer, for a trifling sum of no importance in the ag- 
gregate of his ten millions ; or> that it he ever enter- 
tained the idea of bequeathing them to his kinsmen, 
he found it difficult to divide it in portions to please 
himself — or, he might fancy, whatever division he 
could make, would prove unsatisfactory to them, and 
only tend to excite contention and ill-blood. 

He might also imagine, and it is the most rational 
and probable motive that I have been able to assign 
for this singular feature of his Will, that the orphans 

z 2 



264 BIOGRAPHY OF 

of his college would naturally indulge an innocent cu- 
riosity, to know something of the habits, maimers, and 
mode of living of their benefactor, their friend, and 
their father, who had taken them by the hand to shelter 
them from the storms of life, to prepare them for the 
duties of citizens, and enable them to fulfil the destiny 
of men. What more historical and rational manner of 
gratifying that curiosity, than in contemplating the do- 
mestic establishment of their benefactor, as it was when 
he lived in the midst of it. Others would set but a 
trifling and transient value on his old fashioned furni- 
ture; but he knew, that the rescued and grateful or- 
phan, would look on it with higher emotions than even 
those that would throb in the bosom of a kinsman ; that 
even the tear of a grateful eye might bedew them with 
a sincere tribute to his benevolence. 

And who can tell, but that this very appropriation, 
might have brought to the heart of Mr. Girard, the first 
refreshing sympathy of feelings, which are allied to 
those that thrill the parental bosom, when in the pen- 
sive hour of bequeathing our earthly possessions, as 
a preparation for the grave, we first indulge in the 
melancholy, yet pleasing fancy, as to whether our 
children, or our friends, will remember or forget us, 
when we have departed to the realms of eternal rest? 
It is then, the fond heart, deluded by its own softness, 
whispers in the softest tones, — 4< Oh, yes ! they will 
often weep over this memorial of my affection : — yes, 
they will prize it for their fond father's sake — and when 
he is mingled with his native dust, they will, as they 
behold it, enunciate his name with a sigh, blessing his 
memory." 

Under this natural and probable train of thoughts 
and feelings, who shall venture harshly to denounce this 
innocent and unoffending preservation of his goods — of 
his household gods — the deities of his hearth, as the 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 265 

mere vanity of a conceited old man? Let us not libel 
human nature by the bare suspicion that he could not 
thus feel, and did not thus act! 

But however this may be, his right to so dispose of 
his domestic establishment cannot be questioned 5 and 
as he has made it conducive to utility* who shall con- 
demn what in its motive could not be vicious, and what 
in its tendency is laudable ? That he had utility in his 
eye at this time, in making this disposition of his house- 
hold goods, is manifested by the terms of the will. — He 
says, 4i In one or more of those buildings, in which they 
may be most useful, I direct my executors to place my 
plate and furniture of every sort." 

It has been adduced as an instance of his vanity, pre- 
sumption, and conceit, that he should have left a model, 
or description of the buildings intended for his Orphan 
College; but the justness of these illiberal imputations 
may well be questioned. 

Prejudice, it must be anticipated, will attack every 
vulnerable, or apparently unguarded point of the living 
character, and posthumous regulations of this eccentric 
man. But any attempts to ridicule, or traduce him, on 
the score of his description of the mansion and dwell- 
ings that he designed for his Orphan Jlsylum, must re- 
coil upon those who make the attempt. 

His object was obviously to indicate the sort of in- 
stitution that he wished to organise— to help out, as it 
were, the language of his Will, by a picture, from his 
hand of the kind of buildings that he desired to be 
erected. This he has accomplished with a graphic 
pencil ; and it must be admitted, that after reading his 
description of the buildings, our idea of his College is 
more perfect and complete than it was before. 

No man understood this subject better than Girard. 
He had formed a conception of what kind of a building 



£66 BIOGRAPHY OF 

his College ought to be ; and departing for the world 
of spirits, he certainly had a right to impose an injunc- 
tion upon his heirs, to carry out his own ideas in the 
structure and formation of his College ; especially as his 
notions were adopted with especial reference to conve- 
nience and utility. 

With that forecast and sagacity for which he was so 
remarkable, he has prescribed regulations for the choice 
of instructors and teachers in his Orphan College, that 
cannot but extort unqualified admiration. He has or- 
dained, that "no person shall be employed, who shall 
not be of tried skill in his or her proper department, 
and in all cases persons shall be chosen on account of their 
merit, and not through favour or intrigue." 

And yet, the Select and Common Councils, together 
with the mayor, are designated by the testator to select 
these instructors and professors ! Such an injunction 
imposes a difficult and solemn responsibility on the 
agents and trustees whom he has chosen to fulfil his tes- 
tamentary intentions ; and ought to be constantly exhi- 
bited to their view, to deter the propensity of human 
weakness from falling into error. 

To divest public bodies of all taint of intrigue, when 
about to dispense a great amount of patronage, seems 
scarcely possible. The temptation increases in propor- 
tion as they are beset by importunity, or solicited with 
rival ardour by conflicting competitors. The influence 
of factions will bias the minds of some; the power of 
families will warp the minds of others ; the attractions 
of wealth will seduce some from their integrity ; and 
the force of friendship, or interest, would incline others 
to overlook merit in strangers, in order to dispense profit 
to favourites. It may reasonably be hoped, however, in 
this instance, that this requisition of the great founder 
of the Orphan College will meet with a stern and inflexi- 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 267 

ble fulfilment; and that merit only, abstracted from all 
other considerations, shall command and receive their 
suffrages. 

That part of his Will respecting the slaves on his Lou- 
isiana Estate has been justly and warmly condemned, as 
at total variance with the character of philanthropy that 
has been so lavishly ascribed to him. It must be con- 
fessed, that there is here a blemish on his fame., which 
it is not easy to obliterate or justify ; for he could as 
easily have bequeathed a hundred thousand dollars to 
Judge Bree, and emancipated his slaves on the Louisi- 
ana Estate, as have left them in the horrors of perpetual 
bondage. It would have been more consonant to the 
character of Girard as a man of sagacity combined with 
benevolence, to have provided the fiscal means to trans- 
port these miserables to their native country ; and have 
provided them with the means of independent subsist- 
ence for a limited number of years. Here Girard would 
have ennobled his name, with the most enviable wreath 
of enlightened benevolence. The colony of Liberia would 
have been the proper destination of these unfortunate 
beings. 

Let us not, however, condemn him with bitter and un- 
relenting severity. In the multiplicity of his constant 
avocations, he may have overlooked, or forgotten it ; 
although it is somewhat remarkable, that he should 
have found time to determine upon the emancipation of 
his negro cook Hannah, to whom he has bequeathed a 
comfortable annuity — an act which may at least plead 
in some extenuation for his neglect to liberate his Louisi- 
. ana slaves. 

He has also been reasonably censured for the injunc- 
tion to his executors, to settle the business of his Bank 
as speedily as possible $ by which precipitation much 
embarrassment has been caused to the public, and no 
doubt some loss occasioned to his estate. His accus- 



268 BlOGtlAPKY Off 

tomed sagacity, and regard for the public welfare, seems 
here to have forsaken him ; for had he been governed 
by his wonted penetration in this part of his Will, he 
would have caused a very different injunction to have 
been imposed on his executors $ and instead of recom- 
mending haste and precipitancy in the calling in of three 
millions and a half of loans, he would have required his 
bank business to have been adjusted with as much con- 
venience to the public as possible, consulting equally the 
ability of the debtor, and the safety of the Bank. 

It may be alleged, that not foreseeing the embarrass- 
ment of the money market, he could not anticipate that 
the payment of his loans would cause public distress, 
and produce private bankruptcy- But such an excuse 
will hardly apply to Girard, whose peculiar faculty it 
was, to penetrate the future, remember the past, and 
improve the present. His characteristic acumen failed 
him on this occasion. Perhaps age began to obscure a 
wearied and worn-out mind ; and that like the flame in 
the socket, his intellect would sometimes sink into dark- 
ness, to be again re-kindied with a brighter and more 
vivid flash. 

Such are some of the most prominent and remarkable 
features of the Will of Stephen Girard, certainly one of 
the most extraordinary testamentary letters, in its spirit, 
scope, and import, that history has ever recorded in 
the case of a private citizen, unconnected with politics, 
science, or government ; and which, to criticise accord- 
ing to its merits, w r ould occupy a volume, without ex- 
hausting the subject-matter discussed. 

A man so singular, so bold, and so eccentric in his 
opinions, which he expressed reckless of all conse- 
quences, cannot fail to be a subject of perpetual contro- 
versy, and endless discrepancy of sentiment, in all who 
undertake to scan, or appreciate his character. How 
far the judgment of the world will eventually preponde- 



STEPHEN GI1URB. 260 

rate in his favour, can now only be conjectured, as the 
ultimate decision must necessarily devolve upon posteri- 
ty, whose opinion he seems to have anticipated, and steal- 
ing a march upon the present age, by taking up a posi- 
tion on the heights of philosophy, to which the intel- 
lectual progression of mankind is rapidly advancing 
them. 

Without being a man of learning, or even education, 
Girard exhibits an extraordinary example of the power of 
uncultivated intellect to awaken discussion on all the high- 
est and most profound topics of literature, theology, sci- 
ence, political economy, banking, currency, commerce, 
architecture, and whatever relates either to the business 
or the theory of life. It is this faculty, which was in- 
herent in his own powerful mind, that has attracted pub- 
lic attention, and excited the most intense and elaborate 
disquisitions. Mere wealth, as colossal even as that of 
Girard, never would have awakened so much, or such 
intense curiosity and controversy, as he has caused. 
Had he left his millions to his heirs, his name would 
have been interred with his body, and silence would 
long since have reigned over his tomb. But he has 
spoken to endless generations, and endless generations 
will scrutinize, applaud, and condemn him. 

In estimating the character of Girard, no absolute 
opinion can justly be formed of his merits. He had his 
virtues and his vices — his blemishes and his beauties, 
which not to admire would bespeak prejudice, and not 
to condemn would indicate culpable partiality. His in- 
tellectual character speaks for itself, for that was un- 
questionably great and powerful. To say, however, that 
he was a man of moral rectitude, would be to violate 
truth, in oraer to decorate his cenotaph with wreaths of 
fictitious virtues. Nor could the averment be made 
with more propriety and truth, that he was always just. 
In the mind of Girard these qualities were blended with 



270 BIOGRAPHY Of 

their opposites, in precisely that proportion necessary 
to advance his interest, and preserve him from oppro- 
brium. He was a mixture of vice and virtue, with just 
a sufficiency of the good, to rescue him from being con- 
founded with the bad. No good man could have grown 
as rich, and no just one could have died as stoically as 
he did. His bosom was warmed by none of the social 
virtues ; and he was, therefore, a total stranger both to 
generosity and friendship — love or gratitude- — esteem or 
admiration. His whole system, physical as well as in- 
tellectual, seemed to have but one sense; and this was 
only excitable to objects of gain, money, and accumula- 
tion, and finally, of his master-passion — ambition. 

The fairest part of his character is the offspring of his 
ambition ; and his posthumous philanthropy must be 
balanced against a life of avaricious accumulation, in 
order to arrive at a just estimate of the man. His Will 
redeemed him from a load of errors, while it exposed 
that callousness of heart, or stoicism of principle, that 
separated him wide and far from all of his own species. 
He was a man, and a great, man; but without much of 
the virtue, and destitute of all of the feelings peculiar to 
his kind, until he was touched to the quick by the spear 
of affliction. 

Yet such was the diversity of his life, and so varied 
was the course of his occupations — so acute was his sa- 
gacity, and so keen his judgment, that he has left us 
many useful maxims for the regulation of human con- 
duct, and many philosophical examples, by which man- 
kind may be benefitted in almost every relation of pri- 
vate life, commercial business, public credit, and politi- 
cal power. 

It may reasonably be doubted, whether his want of 
religion will operate so perniciously on society as some 
may imagine ; for, after all, religion is more a matter 
of feeling, than of example, inquiry, or ratiocination. A 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 271 

proneness to gloomy ideas, a timid disposition, an un- 
natural dread of death, a superstitious temper, a bad 
digestion, a delicate constitution, adversity, disease, the 
loss of children, or near relatives— any thing that weak- 
ens the mind, or debilitates the body, will ensure, pro- 
duce, or superinduce religious ideas and feelings ; and 
of these, there are at all times such an abundance, as to 
ensure the preservation of religion in all its forms, with- 
out reference to that instinctive piety of the heart, im- 
planted by nature, and confirmed by the highest and 
most sublime speculations of reason. The writings of 
Hume, Gibbon, Voltaire, Rousseau, and others, have 
excited much declamation, and created no measured 
alarm in those who administer the rites and forms of 
churches ; but how little have those writings influenced 
the thoughts and actions of men ? The world still goes 
on as it did before they existed ; churches have not 
diminished in number, nor penitentiaries increased; 
and the professors of religion are more ardent, zealous, 
and persevering. The amount of virtue and vice is 
about the same in all ages, whether religious or irreli- 
gious. The equipoises of human instincts and sympa- 
thies still preserves the harmony of the social system ; 
and men are found to be the same whether they believe 
in one God, or three— whether they practice baptism, 
or neglect it — whether they go to church, or take a 
walk or a ride on the Sabbath — whether they support a 
minister, or attend the silent worship of the Friends* 
meeting house. Nature still preserves her ascendency. 
"The still small voice of the heart," keeps the social 
system at safe anchorage, in the harbour of instinc- 
tive religion. Each mind, according to its bias, derived 
from physical organization, takes its proper position 
in the system, producing that variety which leads to the 
harmony and perfection of the whole. 

2A 



$72 BIOGRAPHY OF 

On this subject of religion we have but one duty, and 
that has rather been enforced by the example of Girard, 
than neglected — it is, to be tolerant; to permit each to 
think freely, because no man can think as he wishes, or 
wish to think differently from what he does. It would 
be a condition of mankind far from desirable, that all 
should think alike on subjects of religion. In that case, 
there would be no occasion for churches, clergymen, 
preaching, or prayers : we should all be overcome with 
the sense of perfection, and expire in the agony of per- 
fect virtue. 

The philosopher, in moralizing upon the character 
and career of Stephen Girard, would fall into nearly 
the same train of reflections that would occur to the 
mind of the casual spectator, or the observation of the 
poor man. He would first utter an ejaculation upon the 
vanity and insufficiency of riches to secure happiness, 
content, or enjoyment — to advance the mind to a state 
of harmony and repose, or to promote the wisdom and 
virtue of the bloated possessor of millions ! 

One of the first effects of wealth, and it is a pernicious 
and baneful one, is upon the heart, which it makes cal- 
lous, cold, and impenetrable. The proprietor of mil- 
lions is a being in himself — sui generis; he cannot feel 
for others' woe, or sympathise in the affliction that so- 
licits his succour. The groans of misery never reach 
his ear — the plaints of distress pass him unheard on the 
whistling wings of the wind ; and mankind are to him 
as dead as the inhabitants of other planets, but for the 
single purpose of gain and accumulation. 

Its influence on the head is equally as deleterious. It 
bewilders the judgment, and causes its unfortunate pos- 
sessor to interpret the adulation of parasites into just 
praise, and to fancy himself the wisest as well as the rich- 
est of men. He mistakes the power of his money for 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 273 

the capacity of his mind y and grows arrogant and domi- 
neering in proportion as his riches swell, and the suple 
neck of the sycophant bows him into the conceit of in- 
fallibility. 

There is no man, not even the poorest of the poor, 
who could in reason envy the condition of Stephen Gi- 
rard. The measure of enjoyment is not increased with 
the expansion of wealth ; but, on the contrary, satiety 
and disappointment diminish, in place of adding to its 
pleasures. Few men have ever realised from wealth, 
that boundless enjoyment which they had anticipated, 
whilst engaged in the ardour of its pursuit. 

The mind that feeds on the contemplation of posthu- 
mous honour, has, to be sure, a source of mysterious, 
but indefinable enjoyment, which it is as difficult to ap- 
preciate, as to imagine. I have read much of the love, 
of glory, and the anticipation of fame ; but I am unable 
to divine how the mind can be gratified by thinking on 
the dissolution of the body, and the separation of the 
soul | for he who dwells upon the thoughts of posthu- 
mous fame, must necessarily meditate on death, the 
prospect of which is gloomy to all men, and horrific to 
the greater number. 

Yet what must be the ecstacy of those visions of glory, 
which are bounded by the corporation limits of a single 
city? Caesar would have smiled at the idea — Cicero 
would have moralized on its grovelling nature — Horace 
would have made it the moral of an ode — and Virgil would 
have painted it as the ambition of a shepherd ! And yet 
to be the benefactor of a city is still a distinction which a 
wise man might laudably covet, but which a rich one 
could attain, without reaping much honour, or being 
entitled to extraordinary praise for uncommon moral 
merit. 

Every thing is comparative. It is a vision of glory to 



274 BIOGRAPHY OF 

the cabin-boy, to look forward to the day, when he may- 
be a merchant ; and it is still a vision of glory, when 
the merchant thinks that his fortune shall cause posteri- 
ty to wrangle, and perplex the councils of a corporation 
by the daring novelties of independent caprice, or the 
rational ordainments of inflexible philosophy. 

The heroes of literature and of wit — of politics and of 
war, may smile at the limited dimensions, and lowly 
flight of the fame of the humble French mariner, even 
when endowed with his millions, as Colonel Stewart 
thought that his wife might be kissed with impunity, 
because the husband was a bottler of claret; but every 
man is of importance in his appropriate sphere. Gi- 
rard, though not the Dn Johnson of literature, was the 
Dr. Johnson of commerce — though not the Byron of 
poetry, he was the Byron of Banking ; and though the 
proud may sneer superciliously at his low birth, and 
the learned affect to scorn his ignorance ; both the 
proud and the erudite may envy him his fame, and sigh 
that they cannot boast of his philanthropy, or incorpo- 
rate their names with the destiny of the metropolis of 
the Union, and the emporium of arts, sciences, and 
manufactures. 

But the fame of Stephen Girard is to be measured by 
the future results of his posthumous benefactions, rather 
than by his actual wealth, or his intrinsic merits. As 
the founder of a College that will furnish the most use- 
ful citizens to the republic, as well as some of the most 
distinguished and renowned — a College that will vie 
with any national academy in the world, Girard will al- 
ways command the highest consideration, even in rela- 
tion to literature, science, and education. 

When we consider the influence, in this respect, 
which he is to exercise over future generations down to 
the latest period of time, when even the form of this 



STEPHEN GIRARD. %7 5 

government may undergo changes that will obliterate 
all its existing features — when even the name of the 
United States may be forgotten, and humble and sedate 
Pennsylvania may be merged in some great and magni- 
ficent appellation — when, in all possibility, our country 
may be peopled by a nation now unknown among us — 
the mind is lost in the grandeur of the results which 
may ultimately crown with new revolutions in morals, 
religion, and politics, the ordainments of the humble 
Frenchman. 

By the very organization of this College, it carries on 
its face the proof that it must be operative on sowiety to 
produce active changes of a very important character. 
From the very language made use of by the testator, it 
cannot be a mere seminary of instruction, instilling into 
the youthful mind, the knowledge and science already 
extant in the books of the schools. Every youth of the 
College, who reads the Will of his benefactor, will feel 
the vivid and powerful force of intellectual volition ; and 
become ambitious of knowing more than the old systems 
can teach, and make fresh discoveries in the boundless 
tract of thought, science, and erudition. 

Viewed in this light, Girard becomes associated with 
Lord Bacon, David Hume, Gibbon, Voltaire, and Helve- 
tius, in those extensive powers of intellectual anticipa- 
tion, partaking of the gift of prophecy, for which they 
were remarkable. 

There are many features of the character of Stephen 
Girard, that are calculated, and ought to have an influ- 
ence on the destiny of mankind, to better and improve 
their condition. Among these, is that penetration and 
judgment, which induced him to institute a college for 
the dissemination of knowledge, on the plan of instruct- 
ing the pupils in things, in preference to words $ as well 
as that disregard of luxury, which enervates, and, final- 

2 a 2 



%76 BIOGRAPHY OF 

ly, superinduces the approach of premature old age. 
It was a great exercise of the intellect, which could 
give perpetual circulation to his immense property, and yet 
direct its income to the most useful and beneficent pur- 
poses of society. 

In the life of Cato the Censor, by Plutarch, there oc- 
cur remarkable parallels, to the character of Stephen 
Girard, which, as they tend to explode the erroneous 
impression, that a mercenary and avaricious disposition 
is incompatible with greatness of mind, I shall here 
quote at length. 

46 As his thirst after wealth increased," says Plutarch, 
" and he found that agriculture was rather amusing than 
profitable, he turned his thoughts to surer dependencies, 
and employed his money in purchasing ponds, hot baths, 
places proper for fullers, and estates in good condition ; 
having pasture ground and wood lands. From these he 
had a great revenue ; such a one, he used to say, as Ju- 
piter himself could not disappoint him of." 

How similar this to Girard's opinion, that with pru- 
dence, skill, and industry, a man might grow rich in 
defiance of Providence. 

Plutarch continues his portrait of Cato — "He prac- 
tised usury upon ships in the most blamable manner. 
His method was to insist, that those whom he furnished 
with money, should take a great number into partner- 
ship. When there were full fifty of them, and as many 
ships, he demanded one share for himself, which he 
managed by Quintio,* his freed-man, who sailed and 
trafficked along with them. Thus, though his gain was 
great, he did not risk his capital, but only a small part 
of it." 

"He likewise len^ money to such of his slaves as 

* Suppose Roberjot. 



STEPHEN GItiARD. 277 

chose it $ and they employed it in purchasing boys,* 
who were afterwards instructed and fitted for service at 
Cato's expense, and being sold at the year's end by auc- 
tion, Cato took several of them himself, at the price of 
the highest bidder, deducting it out of what he had lent. 
To incline his son to the same economy, he told him, 
6 that to diminish his substance was not the part of a 
man, but of«a widow-woman.' Yet he carried the thing 
to extravagance when he hazarded this assertion, — 
4 That the man truly wonderful and godlike, and Jit to be 
registered in the list of glory, was he, by whose accounts 
it should at last appear, that he had more than doubled 
what he had received from his ancestors. 999 

It will here suggest itself to us, whether Girard had 
ever perused the works of Plutarch, and whether he had 
modelled himself upon the character of Cato the Censor? 
I think it is highly probable, that Girard had studied 
the French translation of Plutarch, and adopted the 
maxims that abound in the life of Cato. 

There are other features in the life of Cato connected 
with the sex, that I shall merely refer the reader to, 
with this difference between Cato and Girard, that the 
former had more shame, and regard for public opinion, 
if not more chastity and virtue. 

In the following traits, there is great similitude to 
Girard. "In his younger days," says Plutarch, "he 
applied himself to agriculture, with a view to profit ,• 
for he used to say, he had only two ways of increasing 
his income, labour and parsimony ; but as he grew old, 
he regarded it only by way of theory and amusement. 
He wrote a book concerning country affairs, in which, 
among other things, he gives rules for making cakes, 
and preserving fruit ; for he was desirous to be thought 

* In the case of Girard, we must reverse the gender. 



$78 BIOGRAPHY 0# 

curious and particular in every thing. He kept a better 
table in the country than in the town ;* for he always 
invited some of his acquaintances in the neighborhood 
to sup with him. With these, he passed the time in 
cheerful conversation, making himself agreeable, not 
only to those of his own age, but to the young ; for he 
had a thorough knowledge of the world, and had either 
seen himself, or heard from others, a varieiy of things 
that were curious and entertaining." 

Plutarch himself moralizes so admirably upon great 
riches, and mean parsimony, in his comparison between 
Jlristides and Cato^ that I must not omit to quote it, for 
the reflection of the reader. 

" Lycurgus," says Plutarch, " when he banished gold 
and silver out of Sparta, and gave the citizens, instead 
of it, money made of iron, that had been spoiled by the 
fire, did not design to excuse them from attending to 
economy, but only to prevent luxury, which is a tumour 
and inflammation caused by riches $ that every one 
might have the greater plenty of the necessaries and con- 
veniences of life. By this establishment of his, it ap- 
pears, that he saw farther than any other legislator; since 
he was sensible that every society has more to apprehend 
from its needy members than from the rich. For this rea- 
son, Cato was no less attentive to the management of his 
domestic concerns, than to that of public affairs $ and 
he not only increased his own estate, but became a guide 

* This, however, cannot be said of Girard, who literally kept no 
table at all in the country, but satisfied himself, in general, with 
bread and strong coffee — leeks, garlic, onions, and claret, with the 
English bean, and other vegetables of which he was fond. The 
bread and claret, he always carried with him from town, in his 
chair-box. Strong coffee, he was particularly fond of, and I his too 
of a strength seldom tasted by others; yet Girard was never known 
to be nervous i so false and futile are all general theories. 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 279 

to others in economy and agriculture, concerning which, 
he collected many useful rules." 

" But Aristides, by his indigence, brought a disgrace 
upon justice itself, as if it were the ruin and impoverish- 
ment of families, and a quality that is profitable to any 
one rather than the owner. Hesiod, however, has said 
a good deal to exhort us both to justice and economy, 
and inveighs against idleness as the source of injustice. 
The same is well represented by Homer — 

** The culture of the fields which fills the stores 

With happy harvests ; and domestic cares, 

Which rears the smiling progeny, no charms 

Could boast for me ; Hwas mine to sail 

The gallant ship, to sound the trump of war, 

To point the polished spear, and hurl the quivering lance." 

"By which the poet intimates, that those who neglect 
their own affairs, generally support themselves by vio- 
lence and injustice. For what the physician says of oil, 
that used outwardly, it is beneficial, but pernicious 
when taken inwardly, is not applicable to the just man ; 
nor is it true that he is useful to others, and unprofita- 
ble to himself and his family. The politics of Aris- 
tides seems, therefore, to have been defective in this 
respect, if it is true (as most writers assert) that he left 
not enough either for the portions of his daughters, or 
for the expenses of his funeral. 

" Thus, Cato's family produced proctors and consuls 
to the fourth generation $* for his grandson and their 
children bore the highest offices ; whereas, though Aris- 
tides was one of the greatest men in Greece, yet the most 

* Plutarch seems to have overlooked the moral influence of 
riches in procuring respect, high station, honours, and public dis- 
tinction ; which far exceeds its physical power ,• hence all his rea- 
1 soning on this point, falls to the ground as illusory and fallacious. 



280 BIOGRAPHY OF 

distressful poverty prevailing among his descendants, 
some of them were forced to get their bread by showing 
tricks of slight of hand, or telling fortunes, and others 
to receive public alms $ and not one of them entertained 
a sentiment worthy of their illustrious ancestor."* 

" It is true, this point is liable to some dispute $ for 
poverty is not dishonorable in itself, but only when it is 
the effect of idleness, intemperance, prodigality, and 
folly. And, when on the contrary, it is associated with 
all the virtues in the sober, the industrious, the just, 
and valiant statesman, it speaks a great and elevated 
mind. For an attention to little things, renders it im- 
possible to do any thing that is great ; nor can he pro- 
vide for the wants of others, whose own are numerous 
and craving. The great and necessary provision for a 
statesman is, not riches, but a contented mind, which 
requiring no superfluities for itself, leaves a man at full 
liberty to serve the commonwealth. God is absolutely 
exempt from wants ; and the virtuous man, in propor- 
tion as he reduces his wants, approaches nearer to the 
divine perfection. For as a body well built for health 
needs nothing exquisite, either in food or clothing, so a 
rational way of living, and a well governed family, de- 
mands a very moderate support. Our possessions, in- 
deed, should be proportionate to the use we make of 
them ; he that amasses a great deal*, and uses but little, 
is far from being satisfied and happy in his abundance ; for 
if while he is solicitous to increase it, he has no desire of 
those things which wealth can procure, he is foolish; if he 

* Plutarch refers this degeneracy to poverty, without considering 
that it was most probable the degeneracy produced their poverty, not 
their poverty their meanness. Had he lived in our times, he would 
have witnessed the most eminent examples of opulent descendants t 
who entertained no sentiments worthy of their illustrious an- 
cestors. 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 281 

does desire them, and yet out of meanness of spirit will not 
allow himself in their enjoyment, he is miserable." 

" I would fain ask Cato himself, this question : — If 
riches are to be enjoyed, why, when possessed of a great 
deal> did he plume himself upon being satisfied with a lit- 
tle? If it be a commendable thing, as indeed it is, to 
be contented with coarse bread, and such wine as our 
servants and labouring people drink, and not to covet 
purple, and elegantly plastered houses, then Aristides, 
Epaminondas, Marius Curius, and Caius Fabrecius, 
were perfectly right in neglecting to acquire what they 
did not think proper to use. For it was by no means 
necessary for a man who, like Cato, could make a de- 
licious meal on turnips, and loved to boil them himself, 
while his wife baked the bread, to talk so much about a 
farthing, and write by what means a man might soonest 
grow rich." 

As appropriate to these remarks of Plutarch, I shall 
quote in juxtaposition, the following stanza from Dr. 
Watts : 

" Mylo, forbear to call him blest, 
That only boasts a large estate, 
Should all the treasures of the West 

Meet ; and conspire to make him great. 
I know thy better thoughts, I know 
Thy reason can't descend so low. 
Let a broad stream with golden sands, 

Through all his meadows roll- 
He's but a wretch with all his lands, 
That wears a narrow soul." 



END OF THE BIOGRAPHY* 



THE WILL 



OF THE LATE 



STEPHEN GIRARD, ESQ. 



I, Stephen Girard, of the city of Philadelphia, in the 
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, mariner and merchant, 
being of sound mind, memory, and understanding, do 
make and publish this my last Will and Testament, in 
manner following : that is to say — 

I. I give and bequeath unto the " Contributors to the 
Pennsylvania Hospital," of which Corporation I am a 
member, the sum of TTiirty Thousand Dollars, upon the 
following conditions, namely, that the said sum shall be 
added to their capital, and shall remain apart thereof 
forever, to be placed at interest, and the interest there- 
of to be applied, in the first place, to pay to my black 
woman Hannah (to whom I hereby give her freedom,) 
the sum of two hundred dollars per year, in quarterly pay- 
ments of fifty dollars each in advance, during all the 
term of her life ; and, in the second place, the said inte- 
rest to be applied to the use and accommodation of the 
sick in the said hospital, and for providing, and at all 
times having competent matrons, and a sufficient num- 
ber of nurses and assistant nurses, in order not only to 
promote the purposes of the said hospital, but to in- 
crease this last class of useful persons, much wanted in 
our city. 

A 



% Z THE WILL OF THE LATE 

II. I give and bequeath to "The Pennsylvania In- 
stitution for the Deaf and Dumb," the sum of Twenty 
Thousand Dollars, for the use of that Institution. 

III. I give and bequeath to u The Orphan Asylum 
of Philadelphia," the sum of Ten Thousand Dollars, 
for the use of that Institution. 

IV. I give and bequeath to u The Comptrollers of 
the Public Schools for the City and County of Phila- 
delphia," the sum of Ten Thousand Dollars, for the use 
of the Schools upon the Lancaster system, in the first 
section of the first school district of Pennsylvania. 

V. I give and bequeath to " The Mayor, Aldermen,, 
and Citizens of Philadelphia," the sum of Ten Thou- 
sand Dollars, in trust, safely to invest the same in some 
productive fund, and with the interest and dividends 
arising therefrom, to purchase fuel between the months 
of March and August in every year forever, and in the 
month of January in every year forever, distribute the 
same amongst poor white house-keepers and room-keep- 
ers, of good character, residing in the city of Phila- 
delphia. 

VI. I give and bequeath to the Society for the Relief 
of poor and distressed Masters of Ships, their Widows 
and Children, (of which Society I am a member,) the 
sum of Ten Thousand Dollars, to be added to their 
capital stock, for the uses and purposes of said Society,. 

VII. I give and bequeath to the gentlemen who 
shall be Trustees of the Masonic Loan, at the time of 
my decease, the sum of Twenty Thousand Dollars, 
including therein ten thousand and nine hundred dol- 
lars due to me, part of the Masonic Loan, and any in- 
terest that may be due thereon at the time of my de- 
cease, in trust for the use and benefit of tf The Grand 
I odge of Pennsylvania, and Masonic Jurisdiction 
thereto belonging," and to be paid over by the said 



STEPHEN GIRARD. «5 

Trustees to the said Grand Lodge, for the purpose of 
being invested in some safe stock or funds, or other 
good security, and the dividends and interest arising 
therefrom to be again so invested and added to the 
capital, without applying any part thereof to any 
other purpose, until the whole capital shall amount to 
thirty thousand dollars, when the same shall forever 
after remain a permanent fund or capital, of the said 
amount of thirty thousand dollars, the interest where- 
of shall be applied from time to time to the relief of 
poor and respectable brethren; and in order that the 
real and benevolent purposes of masonic institutions 
may be attained, I recommend to the several lodges 
riot to admit to membership, or to receive members 
from other lodges unless the applicants shall absolutely 
be men of sound and good morals. 

VIII. I give and bequeath unto Philip Peltz, John Lentz, 
Francis Hesley, Jacob Baker, and Adam Young, of Pas- 
syunk township, in the county of Philadelphia, the sum of 
Six Thousand Dollars, in trust, that they or the survivors 
or survivor of them shall purchase a suitable piece of 
ground, as near as may be in the centre of said town- 
ship, and thereon erect a substantial brick building, 
sufficiently large for a school-house and the residence of 
a school-master, one part thereof for poor male white 
children, and the other part for poor female white chil- 
dren of said township ; and as soon as the said school- 
house shall have been built, that they the said trustees or 
the survivors or survivor of them, shall convey the said 
piece of ground and house thereon erected, and shall pay 
over such balance of said sum as may remain unexpend- 
ed to any board of directors and their successors in trust, 
which may at the time exist or be by law constituted, 
consisting of at least twelve discreet inhabitants of the 
said township, and to be annually chosen by the inhabi- 



4 THE WILL OF THE LATE 

tants thereof ; the said piece of ground and house to be 
carefully maintained by said directors and their suc- 
cessors, solely for the purposes of a school as aforesaid 
forever, and the said balance to be securely invested as 
a permanent fund, the interest thereof to be applied 
from time to time towards the education in the said 
school of any number of such poor white children of 
said township; and I do hereby recommend to the citizens 
of said township to make additions to the fund whereof 
I have laid the foundation. 

IX. I give and devise my house and lot of ground 
thereto belonging, situate in rue Ramouet aux Char- 
trons, near the city of Bordeaux, in France, and the 
rents, issues, and profits thereof, to my brother Etienne 
Girard, and my niece Victoire Fenellon, (daughter of my 
late sister Sophia Girard Capayron, both residing in 
France,) in equal moieties for the life of my said brother, 
and on his decease, one moiety of the said house and 
lot to my said niece Victoire, and her heirs forever, and 
the other moiety to the six children of my said brother, 
namely, John Fabricius, Marguerite, Ann Henriette, Jean 
August, Marie, and Madelaine Henriette, share and 
share alike, (the issue of any deceased child, if more 
than one, to take amongst them the parent's share) and 
their heirs forever. 

X. I give and bequeath to my said brother, Etienne 
Girard, the sum of Five Thousand Dollars, and the like 
sum of Five Thousand Dollars, to each of his six chil- 
dren above named : if any of the said children shall die 
prior to the receipt of his or her legacy of five thousand 
dollars, the said sum shall be paid, and I give and be- 
queath the same to any issue of such deceased child, if 
more than one, share and share alike. 

XI. I give and bequeath to my said niece, Victoire 
Fenellon, the sum of Five Thousand Dollars. 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 5 

XII. I give and bequeath absolutely to my niece, 
Antoinetta, now married to Mr. Hemphill, the sum of 
Ten Thousand Dollars, and I also give and bequeath to 
her the sum of Fifty Thousand Dollars, to be paid over 
to a trustee or trustees, to be appointed by my execu- 
tors, which trustee or trustees shall place and continue 
the said sum of fifty thousand dollars upon good security, 
and pay the interest and dividends thereof as they shall 
from time to time accrue, to my said niece for her sepa- 
rate use during the term of her life, and from, and imme- 
diately after her decease, to pay and distribute the capital 
to and among such of her children and the issue of deceas- 
ed children, and in such parts and shares as she the said 
Antoinetta, by any instrument under her hand and seal, 
executed in the presence of at least two credible wit- 
nesses, shall direct and appoint, and for default of such 
appointment, then to and among the said children and 
issue of deceased children in equal shares, such issue of 
deceased children, if more than one, to take only the 
share which their deceased parent would have taken if 
living. 

XIII. I give and bequeath unto my niece, Carolina, 
now married to Mr. Haslam, the sum of Ten Thousand 
Dollars, to be paid over to a trustee or trustees to be ap- 
pointed by my executors, which trustee or trustees shall 
place and continue the said money upon good security, 
and pay the interest and dividends thereof from time to 
time as they shall accrue, to my said niece, for her sepa- 
rate use, during the term of her life ; and from and im- 
mediately after her decease, to pay and distribute the 
capital to and among such of her children, and issue of 
deceased children, and in such parts and shares, as she 
the said Carolina, by any instrument under her hand and 
seal, executed in the presence of at least two credible 
witnesses, shall direct and appoint, and for default of 

a 2 



6 THE WILL OF THE LATE 

such appointment, then to and among the said children, 
and issue of deceased children, in equal shares, such 
issue of deceased children, if more than one, to take 
only the share which the deceased parent would have 
taken if living ; but if my said niece Carolina, shall leave 
no issue, then the said trustee or trustees on her decease, 
shall pay the said capital and any interest accrued there- 
on, to and among Caroline Lallemand, (niece of the said 
Carolina,) and the children of the aforesaid Antoinetta 
Hemphill, share and share alike. 

XIV. I give and bequeath to my niece, Henrietta, 
now married to Dr. Clark, the sum of Ten Thousand 
Dollars ; and I give and bequeath to her daughter Caro- 
line, (in the last clause above named,) the sum of Twenty 
Thousand Dollars — the interest of the said sum of twenty 
thousand dollars, or so much thereof as may be neces- 
sary, to be applied to the maintenance and education of 
the said Caroline during her minority, and the principal 
with any accumulated interest, to be paid to the said 
Caroline, on her arrival at the age of twenty-one years. 

XV. Unto each of the Captains who shall be in my 
employment at the time of my decease, either in port or 
at sea, having charge of one of my ships or vessels, and 
having performed at least two voyages in my service, I 
give and bequeath the sum of Fifteen Hundred Dollars — 
provided he shall have brought safely into the port of 
Philadelphia, or if at sea at the time of my decease, 
shall bring safely into that port, my ship or vessel last 
entrusted to him, and also, that his conduct during the 
last voyage shall have been in every respect conformable 
to my instructions to him. 

XVI. All persons, who, at the time of my decease, 
shall be bound to me by indenture, as apprentices or ser- 
vants, and who shall then be under age, I direct my ex- 
ecutors to assign to suitable masters immediately after 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 7 

my decease, for the remainder of their respective terms, 
on conditions as favorable as they can in regard to edu- 
cation, clothing, and freedom dues $ to each of the said 
persons in my service and under age at the time of my 
decease, I give and bequeath the sum of Five Hundred 
Dollars, which sums respectively I direct my executors 
safely to invest in public stock, to apply the interest and 
dividends thereof, towards the education of the several 
apprentices or servants, for whom the capital is given 
respectively, and at the termination of the apprentice- 
ship or service of each, to pay to him or her the said 
sum of five hundred dollars and any interest accrued 
thereon, if any such interest shall remain unexpended $ 
in assigning any indenture, preference shall be given to 
the mother, father, or next relation, as assignee, should 
such mother, father, or relative desire it, and be at the 
same time respectable and competent. 

XVII. I give and bequeath to Francis Hesley, (son 
of Mrs. S. Hesley, who is mother of Marianne Hesley,) 
the sum of One Thousand Dollars, over and above such 
sum as may be due to him at my decease. 

XVIII. I charge my real estate in the State of Penn- 
sylvania with the payment of the several annuities or 
sums following, (the said annuities to be paid by the 
Treasurer or other proper officer of the city of Philadel- 
phia, appointed by the corporation thereof for the pur- 
pose, out of the rents and profits of said real estate 
hereinafter directed to be kept constantly rented,) 
namely : — 

1st. I give and bequeath to Mrs. Elizabeth Ingersoll, 
Widow of Jared Ingersoll, Esq., late of the city of Phi- 
ladelphia, Counsellor at Law, an annuity, or yearly sum 
of One Thousand Dollars, to be paid in half yearly pay- 
ments in advance of five hundred dollars each, during 
her life. 



8 THE WILL OF THE LATE 

2d. I give and bequeath to Mrs. Catharine Girard, 
now widow of Mr. J. B. Hoskins, who died in the Isle 
of France, an annuity or yearly sum of Four Hundred 
Dollars, to be paid half yearly in advance, of two hun- 
dred dollars each, during her life. 

3d. I give and bequeath to Mrs. Jane Taylor, my 
present housekeeper, (the widow of the late Captain 
Alexander Taylor, who was master of my ship Helve- 
tius, and died in my employment,) an annuity, or yearly 
sum of Five Hundred Dollars, to be paid in half yearly 
payments, in advance, of two hundred and fifty dollars 
each, during her life. 

4th. I give and bequeath to Mrs. S. Hesley, my house- 
keeper at my place in Passyunk Township, an annuity, 
or yearly sum of Five Hundred Dollars, to be paid in half 
yearly payments, in advance, of two hundred and fifty 
dollars each, during her life. 

5th. I give and bequeath to Marianne Hesley, daugh- 
ter of Mrs. S. Hesley, an annuity, or yearly sum of 
Three Hundred Dollars, to be paid to her mother, for her 
use, in half yearly payments, in advance, of one hundred 
and fifty dollars each, until the said Marianne shall have 
attained the age of twenty one years, when the said an- 
nuity shall cease, and tlie said Marianne will receive the 
five hundred dollars given to her and other indented 
persons, according to clause XVI. of this will. 

6th. I give and bequeath to my late housekeeper, Mary 
Kenton, an annuity, or yearly sum of Three Hundred 
Dollars, to be paid in half yearly payments, in advance, 
of one hundred and fifty dollars each, during her life. 

7th. I give and bequeath to Mrs. Deborah Scott, sister 
of Mary Kenton, and wife of Mr. Edwin T. Scott, an 
annuity, or yearly sum of Three Hundred Dollars, to be 
paid in half yearly payments in advance, of one hundred 
and fifty dollars each, during her life. 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 9 

8th. I give and bequeath to Mrs. Catharine M'Laren, 
sister of Mary Kenton, and wife of Mr. M. M'Laren, 
an annuity, or yearly sum of Three Hundred Dollars, to 
be paid in half yearly payments, in advance, of one hun- 
dred and fifty dollars each, during her life. 

9th. I give and bequeath to Mrs. Amelia G. Taylor, 
wife of Mr. Richard M. Taylor, an annuity, or yearly 
sum of Three Hundred Dollars, to be paid in half yearly 
payments, in advance, of one hundred and fifty dollars 
each, during her life. 

XIX. All that part of my real and personal estate, 
near Washita, in the State of Louisiana, the said real 
estate consisting of upwards of two hundred and eight 
thousand arpens, or acres of land, and including therein 
the settlement hereinafter mentioned, I give, devise, 
and bequeathes follows, namely : 1. I give, devise, and 
bequeath to the Corporation of the City of New Orleans, 
their successors and assigns, all that part of my real 
estate, constituting the settlement formed on my behalf 
by my particular friend, Judge Henry Bree, of Washita, 
consisting of upwards of one thousand arpens, or acres 
of land, with the appurtenances and improvements 
thereon, and also all the personal estate thereto belong- 
ing, and thereon remaining, including upwards of thirty 
slaves now on said settlement, and their increase, in 
trust however, and subject to the following reservations : 

I desire, that no part of the said estate or property, 
or the slaves thereon, or their increase, shall be disposed 
of or sold for the term of twenty years from and after 
my decease, should the said Judge Henry Bree survive 
me and live so long, but that the said settlement shall 
be kept up by the said Judge Henry Bree, for and during 
said term of twenty years, as if it was his own ; that is, it 
shall remain under his sole care and controui, he shall im- 
prove the same by raising such produce as he may deem 



10 THE WILL OF THE LATE 

most advisable, and after paying taxes, and all expenses 
in keeping up the settlement, by clothing the slaves and 
otherwise, he shall have and enjoy for his own use all 
the nett profits of said settlement. Provided, however, 
and I desire that the said Judge Henry Bree shall ren- 
der annually to the Corporation of the City of New 
Orleans, a report of the state of the settlement, the in- 
come and expenditure thereof, the number and increase 
of the slaves, and the nett result of the whole. I desire 
that, at the expiration of the said term of twenty years, 
or on the decease of the said Judge Henry Bree, should 
he not live so long, the land and improvements forming 
said settlement, the slaves thereon, or thereto belong- 
ing, and all other appurtenant personal property, shall 
be sold, as soon as the said Corporation shall deem it 
advisable to do so, and the proceeds of the said sale 
or sales shall be applied by the said Corporation to 
such uses and purposes as they shall consider most 
likely to promote the health and general prosperity of 
the inhabitants of the city of New Orleans. But, until 
the said sale shall be made, the said Corporation shall 
pay all taxes, prevent waste, or intrusion, and so ma- 
nage the said settlement and the slaves, and their in- 
crease thereon, as to derive an income, and the said 
income shall be applied from time to time, to the same 
uses and purposes for the health and general prosperity 
of the said inhabitants. 

2. I give, devise, and bequeath to the Mayor, Alder- 
men, and citizens of Philadelphia, their successors and 
assigns, two undivided third parts of all the rest and 
residue of my said real estate, being the lands unim- 
proved near Washita, in the said state of Louisiana, in 
trust, that, in common with the corporation of the city 
of New Orleans, they shall pay the taxes on the said 
lands, and preserve them from waste and intrusion, for 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 11 

the term of ten years, from and after my decease, and, 
at the end of the said term, when they shall deem it 
advisable to do so, shall sell and dispose of their inter- 
est in said lands gradually from time to time, and apply 
the proceeds of such sales to the same uses and pur- 
poses hereinafter declared and directed, of and concern- 
ing the residue of my personal estate. 

3. And I give, devise, and bequeath to the corpora- 
tion of the city of New Orleans, their successors and 
assigns, the remaining one undivided third part of the 
said lands, in trust, in common with the Mayor, Alder- 
men, and citizens of Philadelphia, to pay the taxes on 
the said lands, and preserve them from waste and in- 
trusion, for the term of ten years from and after my 
decease ; and, at the end of the said term when they shall 
deem it advisable to do so, to sell and dispose of their 
interest in said lands gradually from time to time, and 
to apply the proceeds of such sales to such uses and 
purposes as the said corporation may consider most 
likely to promote the health and general prosperity of 
the inhabitants of the city of New Orleans. 

XX. And whereas, I have been for a long time im- 
pressed with the importance of educating the poor, and 
of placing them by the early cultivation of their minds 
and the development of their moral principles above the 
many temptations, to which, through poverty and igno- 
rance they are exposed ; and I am particularly desirous 
to provide for such a number of poor male white orphan 
children, as can be trained in one institution, a. better 
education, as well as a more comfortable maintenance 
than they usually receive from the application of the 
public funds : And whereas, together with the object 
just adverted to, I have sincerely at heart the welfare of 
the city of Philadelphia, and, as a part of it, am desi- 
rous to improve the neighbourhood of the river Dela- 



12 THE WILL OF THE LATE 

ware, so that the health of the citizens may be promoted 
and preserved, and that the eastern part of the city may 
be made to correspond better with the interior. Now, 
I do give, devise and bequeath all the residue and remainder 
of my Real and Personal Estate of every sort and kind 
wheresoever situate, (the real estate in Pennsylvania 
charged as aforesaid) unto u the Mayor, Aldermen, and 
citizens of Philadelphia," their successors and assigns, 
in trust, to and for the several uses, intents, and purposes 
hereinafter mentioned and declared of and concerning 
the same, that is to say : So far as regards my real 
estate in Pennsylvania, in trust, that no part thereof shall 
ever be sold or alienated by the said Mayor, Aldermen, 
and citizens of Philadelphia, or their successors, but the 
same shall forever thereafter be let from time to time, 
to good tenants, at yearly, or other rents, and upon 
leases in possession not exceeding five years from the 
commencement thereof, and that the rents, issues, and 
profits arising therefrom shall be applied towards keep- 
ing that part of the said real estate situate in the city 
and liberties of Philadelphia constantly in good repair, 
(parts elsewhere situate to be kept in repair by the ten- 
ants thereof respectively) and towards improving the 
same, whenever necessary, by erecting new buildings, 
and that the nett residue (after paying the several annu- 
ities herein before provided for) be applied to the same 
uses and purposes as are herein declared of and con- 
cerning the residue of my personal estate : — And so far 
as regards my real estate in Kentucky, now under the 
care of Messrs. Triplett and Burmley, in trust, to sell 
and dispose of the same, whenever it may be expedient 
to do so, and to apply the proceeds of such sale to the 
same uses and purposes as are herein declared of and 
concerning the residue of my personal estate. 

XXI. And so far as regards the residue of my per- 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 13 

sotial estate, in trust, as to Two Millions of Dollars, part 
thereof to apply and expend so much of that sum as may 
be necessary — in erecting, as soon as practicably may be, 
in the centre of my square of ground between High and 
Chesnut streets, and Eleventh and Twelfth streets, in the 
city of Philadelphia, (which square of ground I hereby 
devote for the purposes hereinafter stated, and for no 
other forever,) a permanent college, with suitable out- 
buildings, sufficiently spacious for the residence and ac- 
commodation of at least three hundred scholars, and the 
requisite teachers and other persons necessary in such 
an institution as I direct to be established : and in sup- 
plying the said college and out-buildings with decent and 
suitable furniture, as well as books and all things need- 
ful to carry into effect my general design. 

The said college shall be constructed with the most 
durable materials, and in the most permanent manner, 
avoiding needless ornament, and attending chiefly to the 
strength, convenience, and neatness of the whole : it 
shall be at least one hundred and ten feet east and west, 
and one hundred and sixty feet north and south, and 
shall be built on lines parellel with High and Chesnut 
streets, and Eleventh and Twelfth streets, provided 
those lines shall constitute at their junction right angles : 
it shall be three stories in height, each story at least fif- 
teen feet high in the clear from the floor to the cornice ; 
it shall be fire-proof inside and outside. The floors and 
the roof to be formed of solid materials, on arches 
turned on proper centres, so that no w r ood may be used, 
except for doors, windows, and shutters : cellars shall 
be made under the whole building, solely for the pur- 
poses of the institution ; the doors to them from the 
outside shall be on the east and west of the building, and 
access to them from the inside shall be had by steps, 
descending to the cellar door, from each of the entries 

B 



14 THE WILL OF THE LATE 

or halls hereinafter mentioned, and the inside cellar 
doors to open under the stairs on the north east and 
north west corners of the northern entry, and under the 
stairs on the south east and south west corners of the 
southern entry: there should be a cellar window under 
and in a line with each window in the first story — they 
should be built one half below, the other half above the 
surface of the ground, and the ground outside each 
window should be supported by stout walls ; the sashes 
should open inside, on hinges, like doors, and there 
should be strong iron bars outside each window; the 
windows inside and outside should not be less than four 
feet wide in the clear ; there shall be in each story, four 
rooms, each room not less than fifty feet square in the 
clear; the four rooms on each floor to occupy the whole 
space east and west on such floor or story, and the mid- 
dle of the building north and south ; so that in the north 
of the building, and in the south thereof, there may re- 
main a space cf equal dimensions, for an entry or hall 
in each, for stairs and landings : in the north east and 
in the north west corners of the northern entry or hall 
on the first floor, stairs shall be made so as to form a 
double stair case, which shall be carried up through the 
several stories ; and, hi like manner, in the south east 
and south west corners of the southern entry or hall, 
stairs shall made on the first floor, so as to form a dou- 
ble stair case, to be carried up through the several 
stories ; the steps of the stairs to be made of smooth 
white marble, with plain sqtfare edges, each step not to 
exceed nine inches in the rise, nor to be less than ten 
inches in the tread ; the outside and inside foundation 
walls shall be at least ten feet high in the clear from the 
ground to the ceiling ; the first floor shall be at least 
three feet above the level of the ground around the 
building, after that ground shall have been so regulated 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 15 

las that there shall be a gradual descent from the centre 
to the sides of the square formed by High and Chesnut, 
and Eleventh and Twelfth streets : all the outside foun- 
dation walls, forming the cellars, shall be three feet six. 
inches thick up to the first floor, or as high as may be neces- 
sary to fix the centres for the first floor ; and the inside 
foundation wall, running north and south, and the three 
inside foundation walls running east and west, (intended 
to receive the interior walls for the four rooms, each 
not less than fifty feet square in the clear, above men- 
tioned) shall be three feet thick up to the first floor, or 
as high as may be necessary to fix the centres for the 
first floor when carried so far up, the outside walls shall 
be reduced to two feet in thickness, leaving a recess 
outside of one foot, and inside, of six inches — and when 
carried so far up, the inside foundation walls shall also 
be reduced, six inches on each side, to the thickness of 
two feet; centres shall then be fixed on the various re- 
cesses of six inches throughout, left for the purpose, 
the proper arches shall be turned, and the first floor laid^ 
the outside and the inside walls shall then be carried up, 
of the thickness of two feet throughout, as high as may 
be necessary to begin the recess intended to fix the cen- 
tres for the second floor, that is, the floor for the four 
rooms, each not less than 50 feet square in the clear, 
and for the landing in the north, and the landing in the 
south of the building, where the stairs are to go up — * 
at this stage of the work, a chain, composed of bars of 
inch square iron, each bar about ten feet long, and 
linked together by hooks formed of the ends of the bars, 
shall be laid straightly and horizontally along the seve- 
ral walls, and shall be as tightly as possible worked into 
the centre of them throughout, and shall be secured 
wherever necessary, especially at all the angles, by iron 
clamps solidly fastened, so as to prevent cracking or 



16 THE WILL OF THE LATE 

swerving in any part ; centres shall then be laid, the 
proper arches turned for the second floor and landings, 
and the second floor and landings shall be laid ; the out- 
side and the inside walls shall then be carried up, of 
the same thickness of two feet throughout as high as 
may be necessary, to begin in the recess intended to fix 
the centres for the third floor and landings, and, when 
so far carried up, another chain, similar in all respects 
to that used at the second story, shall be in like manner 
worked into the walls throughout as tightly as possible, 
and clamped in the same way with equal care ; centres 
shall be formed, the proper arches turned 5 and the third 
floor and landings shall be laid ; the outside and the in- 
side walls shall then be carried up, of the same thick- 
ness of two feet throughout, as high as may be necessary 
to begin the recess intended to fix the centres for the 
roof ; and, when so carried up, a third chain, in all re- 
spects like those used at the second and third stories, 
shall in the manner before described, be worked as 
tightly as possible into the walls throughout, and shall 
be clamped with equal care; centres shall now be fixed 
in the manner best adapted for the roof, which is to 
form the ceiling for the third story, the proper arches 
shall be turned, and the roof shall be laid as nearly hori- 
zontally as may be, consistently with the easy passage 
of water to the eaves : the outside walls still of the 
thickness of two feet throughout, shall then be carried 
up about two feet above the level of the platform, and 
shall have marble capping, with a strong and neat iron 
railing thereon. The outside walls shall be faced with 
slabs or blocks of marble or granite, not less than two 
feet thick and fastened together with clamps securely 
sunk therein, — they shall be carried up flush from the re- 
cess of one foot formed at the first floor where the foun- 
dation outside wall is reduced to two feet. The floors 



STEPHEN GIRARD. It 

and landings as well as the roof shall be covered with 
marble slabs, securely laid in mortar \ the slabs on the 
roof to be twice as thick as those on the floors* In 
constructing the walls, as well as in turning the arches, 
and laying the floors, landings, and roof, good and strong 
mortar and grout, shall be used, so that no cavity what- 
ever may any where remain. — A furnace or furnaces for 
the generation of heated air shall be placed in the cellar, 
and the heated air shall be introduced in adequate quan- 
tity wherever wanted, by means of pipes and flues in- 
serted and made for the purpose in the walls, and as 
those walls shall be constructed. In case it shall be 
found expedient for the purposes of a library, or other- 
wise to increase the number of rooms, by dividing any 
of those directed to be not less than fifty feet square in 
the clear, into parts, the partition walls to be of solid 
materials. A room most suitable for the purpose^ shall 
be set apart for the reception and preservation of my 
books and papers, and I direct that they shall be placed 
there by my executors, and carefully preserved therein* 
There shall be two principal doors of entrance into the 
college, one into the entry or hall on the first floor, in 
the north of the building, and in the centre between the 
east and west walls, the other into the entry or hall, in 
the south of the building, and in the centre between the 
east and west walls \ the dimensions to be determined 
by a due regard to the size of the entire building, to 
that of the entry, and to the purposes of the doors. The 
necessity for, as well as the position and size of, other 
doors, internal or external, and also the position and 
size of the windows, to be, in like manner, decided on 
by a consideration of the uses to which the building is 
to be applied, the size of the building itself, and of the 
several rooms, and of the advantages of light and air : 
there should in each instance, be double doors, those 

b 2 



18 ttt£ WTtL OF tHJB LATE 

opening into the rooms to be what are termed glass 
doors, so as to increase the quantity of light for each 
room, and those opening outward to be of substantial 
wood work* well lined and secured ; the windows of the 
second and third stories I recommend to be made in the 
style of those in the first and second stories of my pre* 
Sent dwelling house, North Water street, on the eastern 
front thereof ; and outside each window, I recommend 
that a substantial and neat iron balcony be placed suf- 
ficiently wide, to admit the opening of the shutters 
against the walls ; the windows of the lower story to be 
in the same style, except that they are not to descend to 
the floor, but so far as the surbase, up to which the wall 
is to be carried, as is the case in the lower story of my 
house at my place in Passyunk Township. In minute 
particulars, not here noticed, utility and good taste 
should determine. There should be at least four out-; 
buildings detached from the main edifice, and from each 
other, and in such positions as shall at once answer the 
purposes of the institution, and be consistent with the 
symmetry of the whole establishment : each building 
should be, as far as practicable, devoted to a distinct 
purpose ; in that one or more of those buildings, in 
which they may be most useful, I direct my executors 
to place my plate and furniture of every sort. 

The entire square, formed by High and Chesnut 
streets, and Eleventh and Twelfth streets, shall be em 
closed with a solid wall, at least fourteen inches thick* 
and ten feet high, capped with marble and guarded with 
irons on the top, so as to prevent persons from getting 
over ; there shall be two places of entrance into the 
square, one in the centre of the wall facing High street* 
and the other in the centre of the wall facing Chesnut 
street ; at each place of entrance there shall be two gates, 
one opening inward* artd the other outward $ those 



STEPHEN GIRAIU). 19 

Opening inward to be of iron, and in the style of the 
gates north and south of my banking house; and those 
opening outward to be of substantial wood work well 
lined and secured on the faces thereof with sheet iron. 
The messuages now erected on the south east corner of 
High and Twelfth streets, and on Twelfth street, to be 
taken down and removed as soon as the college and out- 
buildings shall have been erected, so that the establish- 
ment may be rendered secure and private. 

When the college and appurtenances shall have been 
constructed, and supplied with plain and suitable furni- 
ture and books, philosophical and experimental instru- 
ments and- apparatus, and all other matters needful to 
carry my general design into execution $ the income, 
issues and profits of so much of the said sum of two 
millions of dollars as shall remain unexpended, shall be 
applied to maintain the said college according to my 
directions. 

1. The institution shall be organized as soon as prac- 
ticable, and to accomplish that purpose more effectually, 
due public notice of the intended opening of the college 
shall be given — so that there may be an opportunity to 
make selections of competent instructors, and other 
agents, and those who may have the charge of orphans, 
may be aware of the provisions intended for them. 

2. A competent number of instructors, teachers, as- 
sistants, and other necessary agents, shall be selected, 
and when needful, their places from time to time sup- 
plied : they shall receive adequate compensation for 
their services ; but no person shall be employed, who 
shall not be of tried skill in his or her proper depart- 
ment, of established moral character, and in all cases per- 
sons shall be chosen on account of their merit, and not 
through Javour or intrigue* 



20 THE WILL OF THE LATE 

3. As many poor white male orphans, between the 
ages of six and ten years, as the said income shall be 
adequate to maintain, shall be introduced into the col- 
lege as soon as possible $ and from time to time as there 
may be vacancies, or as increased ability from income 
may warrant, others shall be introduced. 

4. On the application for admission, an accurate 
statement should be taken in a book prepared for the pur- 
pose, of the name, birth-place, age, health, condition as 
to relatives, and other particulars useful to be known of 
each orphan. 

5. No orphan should be admitted until the guardians 
or directors of the poor, or a proper guardian or other 
competent authority, shall have given, by indenture, 
relinquishment, or otherwise, adequate power to the 
Mayor, Aldermen, and Citizens of Philadelphia, or to 
directors, or others by them appointed, to enforce, in 
relation to each orphan, every proper restraint, and to 
prevent relatives or others from interfering with, or 
withdrawing such orphans from the institution. 

6. Those orphans, for whose admission application 
shall first be made, shall be first introduced, all other 
things concurring — and at all future times, priority of 
application shall entitle the applicant to preference in 
admission, all other things concurring ; but if there 
shall be at any time, more applicants than vacancies, 
and the applying orphans shall have been born in dif- 
ferent places, a preference shall be given— -first, to or- 
phans born in the city of Philadelphia ; secondly, to 
those born in any other part of Pennsylvania ; thirdly, 
to those born in the city of New York, (that being the 
first port on the continent of North America at which 
I arrived ;) and lastly, to those born in the city of New 
Orleans, (being the first port of the said continent at 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 21 

which I first traded, in the first instance as first officer, 
and subsequently as master and part owner of a vessel 
and cargo.) 

7. The orphans admitted into the college, shall be 
there fed with plain but wholesome food, clothed with 
plain but decent apparel, (no distinctive dress ever to be 
worn) and lodged in a plain but safe manner. Due re- 
gard shall be paid to their health, and to this end their 
persons and clothes shall be kept clean, and they shall 
have suitable and rational exercise and recreation : 
They shall be instructed in the various b anches of a 
sound education, comprehending reading, writing, gram- 
mar, arithmetic, geography, navigation, surveying, 
practical mathematics, astronomy, natural, chemical, 
and experimental philosophy, the French and Spanish 
languages, (I do not forbid, but I do not recommend the 
Greek and Latin languages) — and such other learning 
and science as the capacities of the several scholars 
may merit or warrant : I would have them taught facts 
and things, rather than words or signs. And, especially, 
I desire, that by every proper means a pure attachment 
to our republican institutions, and to the sacred rights 
of conscience, as guaranteed by our happy constitutions, 
shall be formed and fostered in the minds of the scholars. 

8. Should it unfortunately happen, that any of the 
orphans, admitted into the college, shall, from mal- 
conduct, have become unfit companions for the rest, and 
mild means of reformation prove abortive, they should 
no longer remain therein. 

9. Those scholars, who shall merit it, shall remain in 
the college until they shall respectively arrive at between 
fourteen and eighteen years of age ; they shall then be 
bound out by the Mayor, Aldermen, and Citizens of 
Philadelphia, or under their direction, to suitable occu- 
pations, as those of agriculture, navigation, arts, me- 



22 THE WILL OF THE LATE 

chanical trades, and manufactures, according to the 
capacities and acquirements of the scholars respectively, 
consulting, as far as prudence shall justify it, the incli- 
nations of the several scholars, as to the occupation, art, 
or trade, to be learned. 

In relation to the organization of the College and its 
appendages, I leave, necessarily, many details to the 
Mayor, Aldermen, and Citizens of Philadelphia, and 
their successors $ and I do so, with the more confidence, 
as, from the nature of my bequests, and the benefit 1?o 
result from them, I trust that my fellow-citizens of Phi- 
ladelphia, will observe and evince especial care and anxiety 
In selecting members for their City Councils, and other agents. 

There are, however, some restrictions, which I con- 
sider it my duty to prescribe, and to be, amongst others, 
conditions on which my bequest for said college is made 
and to be enjoyed, namely : first, I enjoin and require, 
that, if, at the close of any year, the income of the fund 
devoted to the purposes of the said college shall be 
more than sufficient for the maintenance of the institu- 
tion during that year, then the balance of the said in- 
come, after defraying such maintenance, shall be forth- 
with invested in good securities, thereafter to be and 
remain a part of the capital ; but, in no event, shall any 
part of the said capital be sold, disposed of, or pledged, 
to meet the current expenses of the said institution, to 
which I devote the interest, income, and dividends 
thereof, exclusively : secondly, I enjoin and require that 
no ecclesiastic, missionary, or minister of any sect whatso- 
ever, shall ever hold or exercise any station or duty what- 
ever in the said College ; nor shall any such person ever 
be admitted for any purpose, or as a visitor, within the pre- 
mises appropriated to the purposes of the said College. In 
making this restriction, I do not mean to cast any re- 
flection upon any sect or person whatsoever ; but, as 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 23 

there is such a multitude of sects, and such a diversity 
of opinion amongst them, I desire to keep the tender 
minds of the orphans, who are to derive advantage from 
this bequest, free from the excitement, which clashing 
doctrines and sectarian controversy are so apt to pro- 
duce i my desire is, that all the instructors and teachers 
in the college shall take pains to instil into the minds 
of the scholars, the purest principles of morality, so 
that, on their entrance into active life, they may from 
inclination and habit, evince benevolence towards their 
fellow creatures, and a love of truth, sobriety, and in- 
dustry, adopting at the same time such religious tenets 
as their matured reason may enable them to prefer. 

If the income arising from that part of the said sum 
of two millions of dollars, remaining after the construc- 
tion and furnishing of the college and out-buildings, 
shall, owing to the increase of the number of orphans 
applying for admission, or other cause, be inadequate 
to the construction of new buildings, or the mainte- 
nance and education of as many orphans as may apply 
for admission, then such further sum as may be neces- 
sary for the construction of new buildings and the main- 
tenance and education of such further number of or- 
phans, as can be maintained and instructed within such 
buildings as the said square of ground shall be adequate 
to, shall be taken from the final residuary fund, herein- 
after expressly referred to for the purpose^ compre- 
hending the income of my real estate in the city and 
county of Philadelphia, and the dividends of my stock 
in the Schuylkill Navigation Company — my design and 
desire being, that the benefits of said institution shall 
be extended to as great a number of orphans as the 
limits of the said square and buildings therein can ac- 
commodate. 

XXII. And as to the further s&m of Five Hundred 



24 THE WILL OF THE LATE 

Thousand Dollars, part of the residue of my personal 
estate, in trust, to invest the same securely, and to keep 
the same so invested, and to apply the income thereof 
exclusively to the following purposes : that is to say — 

1. To lay out, regulate, curb, light, and pave a pass- 
age or street, on the east part of the city of Philadelphia, 
fronting the river Delaware, not less than twenty-one 
feet wide, and to be called Delaware Jlvenue y extending 
from South or Cedar street, all along the east part of 
Water street squares, and the west side of the logs, which 
form the heads of the docks, or thereabouts \ and to this 
intent to obtain such Acts of Assembly, and to make 
such purchases or agreements, as will enable the Mayor, 
Aldermen, and citizens of Philadelphia, to remove or 
pull down all the buildings, fences, and obstructions 
which may be in the way, and to prohibit all buildings, 
fences, or erections of any kind, to the eastward of said 
Avenue ; to fill up the heads of such of the docks as may 
not afford sufficient room for the said street ; to compel 
the owners of wharves to keep them clean and covered 
completely with gravel or other hard materials, and to 
be so levelled that water will not remain thereon after 
a shower of rain ; to completely clean, and keep clean, 
all the docks within the limits of the city, fronting on 
the Delaware ; and to pull down all platforms carried 
out, from the east part of the city over the river Dela- 
ware on piles or pillars. 

2. To pull down and remove all wooden buildings, as 
well those made of wood and other combustible ma- 
terials, as those called brick-paned, or frame buildings 
filled in with bricks, that are erected within the limits 
of the city of Philadelphia, and also to prohibit the 
erection of any such building, within the said city's 
limits at any future time, 

3. To regulate, widen, pave, and curb Water street, 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 25 

to distribute the Schuylkill water therein upon the fol- 
lowing plan, that is to say — that Water street be widened 
east and west from Vine street, all the way to South 
street, in like manner as it is from the front of my 
dwelling to the front of my stores on the west side of 
Water street, and the regulation of the curb-stones con- 
tinued at the same distance from one another, as they 
are at present opposite to the said dwelling and stores, 
so that the regulation of the said street be not less than 
thirty-nine feet wide, and afford a large and convenient 
footway, clear of obstructions and incumbrances of every 
nature, and the cellar doors on which, if any shall be 
permitted, not to extend from the buildings on to the 
footway more than four feet ; the said widlh to be in- 
creased gradually, as the fund shall permit, and as the 
capacity to remove impediments shall increase, until 
there shall be a correct and permanent regulation of 
Water street, on the principles above stated, so that it 
may run north and south as straight as possible. That 
the ten feet middle Alley, belonging to the public, and 
running from the centre of the east squares to Front 
street all the way down across Water street to the river 
Delaware, be kept open and cleaned as city property, 
all the way from Vine to South street ; that such part 
of each centre or middle Alley as runs from Front to 
Water street, be arched over with bricks or stone, in 
so strong a manner as to facilitate the building of plain 
and permanent stone steps and platforms, so that they 
may be washed and kept constantly clean ; and that the 
continuance of the said Alleys, from the east side of 
Water street be curbed all the way to the river Dela- 
ware, and kept open forever, (I understand that those 
middle or centre Alleys, were left open in the first plan 
of the lots, on the east front of the city, which were 
granted from the east side of Front street to the river 

C 



26 THE WILL OF THE LATE 



Delaware, and that each lot on said east front has con 
tributed to make those Alleys by giving a part of their 
ground in proportion to the size of each lot,- those 
Alleys were in the first instance, and still are, considered 
public property, intended for the convenience of the in- 
habitants residing in Front street to go down to the 
river for water and other purposes ; but, owing to ne- 
glect or some other cause, on the part of those who have 
had the care of the city property, several encroachments 
have been made on them by individuals, by wholly oc- 
cupying, or building over them, or otherwise, and in 
that way the inhabitants, more particularly those who 
reside in the neighbourhood, are deprived of the benefit 
of that wholesome air, which their opening and cleans- 
ing throughout would afford.) That the iron pipes, in 
Water street, which, by being of smaller size than those 
in the other streets, and too near the surface of the 
ground, cause constant leaks, particularly in the winter 
season, which in many places render the street impassi- 
ble, be taken up and replaced by pipes of the same size, 
quality and dimensions in every respect, and laid down 
as deeply from the surface of the ground, as the iron 
pipes, which are laid in the main streets of the city; 
and as it respects pumps for Schuylkill water and fire- 
plugs in Water street, that one of each be fixed at the 
south-west corner of Vine and Water streets, and so 
running southward, one of each near the steps of the 
centre Alley, going up to Front street ; one of each at 
the south-west corner of Sassafras and Water streets, 
one of each near the steps of the centre Alley going up 
to Front street, and so on at every south-west corner of 
all the main streets and Water street, and of the centre 
Alleys of every square, as far as South or Cedar street ; 
and when the same shall have been completed, that all 
Water street shall be repaved by the best workmen, in 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 27 

the most complete manner, with the best paving water- 
stones, after the height of the curb-stones shall have 
been regulated throughout, as well as the ascent and 
descent of the street, in such manner as to conduct the 
water through the main streets and the centre Alleys to 
the river Delaware, as far as practicable ; and whenever 
any part of the street shall want to be raised, to use 
nothing but good paving gravel for that purpose, so as 
to make the paving as permanent as possible. By all 
which improvements, it is my intention to place and 
maintain the section of the city above referred to, in a 
condition which will correspond better with the general 
cleanliness and appearance of the whole city, and be 
more consistent with the safety, health, and comfort of 
the citizens. And my mind and will are, that all the 
income, interest, and dividends of the said capital sum 
of five hundred thousand dollars, shall be yearly, and 

i every year, expended upon the said objects, in the order 
in which I have stated them as closely as possible, and 
upon no other objects until those enumerated shall have 
been attained ; and, when those objects shall have been 

! accomplished, I authorize and direct the said The 

; M.yor, Aldermen, and Citizens, to apply such part of 
the income of the said capital sum of five hundred thou 

i sand dollars, as they may think proper, to the further 

j improvement, from time to time, of the eastern or Dela- 

< ware front of the city. 

XXIII. I give and bequeath to the Commonwealth 

] of Pennsylvania, the sum of Three Hundred Thousand 
Dollars, for the purpose of internal improvement by canal 
navigation, to be paid into the State treasury by my 
executors, as soon as such laws shall have been enacted 
by the constituted authorities of the said Commonwealth 
as shall be necessary, and amply sufficient to carry into 
effect, or to enable the constituted authorities of the city 



28 



THE WILL OF THE LATE 



of Philadelphia to carry into effect the several improve- 
ments above specified ; namely, 1. Laws, to cause Dela- 
ware Avenue, as above described, to be mage, paved, 
curbed, and lighted ; to cause the buildings, fences, and 
other obstructions now existing to be abated and re- 
moved ; and to prohibit the creation of any such ob- 
structions to the eastward of said Delaware Avenue; 

2. Laws, to cause all wooden buildings as above de- 
scribed to be removed, and to prohibit their future 
erection within the limits of the city of Philadelphia ; 

3. Laws, providing for the gradual widening, regulating, 
paving, and curbing Water street, as herein before de- 
cribed, and also for the repairing the middle alleys, and 
introducing the Schuylkill water, and pumps, as before 
specified— all which objects may, I persuade myself, be 
accomplished on principles at once just in relation to 
individuals, and highly beneficial to the public : the said 
sum, however, not to be paid, unless said laws be pass- 
ed within one year after my decease. 

XXIV. And as it regards the remainder of said residue 
of my personal estate, in trust, to invest the same in 
good securities, and in like manner to invest the interest 
and income thereof from time to time, so that the whole 
shall form a permanent fund ; and to apply the income 
of the said fund, 

1st. To the further improvement and maintenance 
of the aforesaid College, as directed in the last para- 
graph of the XXIst clause of this Will : 

2d. To enable the Corporation of the city of Phila- 
delphia to provide more effectually than they now do, 
for the security of the persons and property of the in- 
habitants of the said city, by a competent police, 
including a sufficient number of watchmen, really suited 
to the purpose ; and to this end, I recommend a division 
of the city, into watch districts, or four parts, each 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 29 

under a proper head, and that, at least two watchmen 
shall, in each round or station, patrole together. 

3d. To enable the said Corporation to improve the 
city property, and the general appearance of the city 
itself, and, in effect, to diminish the burden of taxation, 
now most oppressive, especially on those who are the 
least able to bear it : — 

To all which objects, the prosperity of the city, and 
the health and comfort of its inhabitants, I devote the 
said fund as aforesaid, and direct the income thereof to 
be applied yearly and every year forever, after providing 
for the college as hereinbefore directed, as my primary 
object. But, if the said city shall knowingly and wil- 
fully violate any of the conditions hereinbefore and 
hereinafter mentioned, then I give and bequeath the 
said remainder and accumulations to the Commonwealth 
of Pennsylvania, for the purposes of internal navigation ; 
excepting, however, the rents, issues, and profits of my 
real estate in the city and county of Philadelphia, which 
shall forever be reserved and applied to maintain the 
aforesaid college, in the manner specified in the last 
paragraph of the XXIst clause of this Will. And if the 
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania shall fail to apply this 
or the preceding bequest to the purposes beforemen- 
tioned, or shall apply any part thereof to any other use, 
or shall, for the term of one year, from the time of my 
decease, fail or omit to pass the laws hereinbefore spe- 
cified for promoting the improvement of the city of 
Philadelphia, then I give, devise and bequeath the said 
remainder and accumulations (the rents aforesaid always 
excepted and reserved for the college as aforesaid) to 
the United States of America, for the purposes of in- 
ternal navigation, and no ether. 

Provided, nevertheless, and I do hereby declare, that 

c 2 



30 THE WILL OF THE LATE 

all the preceding bequests and devises of the residue of 
my estate to the Mayor, Aldermen, and citizens of 
Philadelphia, are made upon the following express con- 
ditions, that is to say : Firsts that none of the monies, 
principal, interest, dividends, or rents, arising from the 
said residuary devise and bequest, shall at any time be 
applied to any other purpose or purposes whatever, 
than those herein mentioned and appointed : Second, 
that separate accounts, distinct from the other accounts 
of the Corporation, shall be kept by the said Corpora- 
tion, concerning the said devise, bequest, college, and 
funds, and of the investment and application thereof $ 
and that a separate account or accounts of the same 
shall be kept in bank, not blended with any other ac- 
count, so that it may at all times appear on examination 
by a committee of the Legislature as hereinafter men- 
tioned, that my intentions had been fully complied with : 
Third, That the said Corporation render a detailed ac- 
count annually, in duplicate, to the Legislature, of the 
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, at the commencement 
of the session, one copy for the Senate, and the other for 
the House of Representatives, concerning the said de- 
vised and bequeathed estate, and the investment and 
application of the same, and also a report in like man- 
ner of the state of the said college, and shall submit all 
their books, papers, and accounts touching the same, to 
a committee or committees of the Legislature for ex- 
amination, when the same shall be required. 

Fourth, the said Corporation shall also cause to be 
published in the month of January, annually, in two or 
more newspapers, printed in the city of Philadelphia, a 
concise but plain account of the state of the trusts, de- 
vises and bequests herein declared and made, compre- 
hending the condition of the said college, the number 



STEPHEN GIRARB. 31 

of scholars, and other particulars needful to be publicly- 
known, for the year next preceding the said month of 
January, annually. 

XXV. And whereas I have executed an assignment, 
in trust, of my banking establishment, to take effect the 
day before my decease, to the intent that all the con- 
cerns thereof may be closed by themselves, without 
being blended with the concerns of my general estate, 
and the balance remaining to be paid over to my exe- 
cutors. Now, I do hereby direct my executors, herein 
after mentioned, not to interfere with the said trust in 
any way except to see that the same is faithfully exe- 
cuted, and to aid the execution thereof by all such acts 
and deeds as may be necessary and expedient to effec- 
tuate the same, so that it may be speedily closed, and 
the balance paid over to my executors, to go, as in my 
Will, into the residue of my estate : And I do hereby 
authorize, direct, and empower the said trustees, from 
time to time, as the capital of the said bank shall be 
received, and shall not be wanted for the discharge of 
the debts due thereat, to invest the same in good secu- 
rities in the names of my executors, and to hand over 
the same to them, to be disposed of according to this 
my Will. 

XXVI. Lastly, I do hereby nominate and appoint 
Timothy Paxson, Thomas P. Cope, Joseph Roberts, 
William J. Duane, and John A. Barclay, executors of 
this my last Will and Testament : I recommend to them 
to close the concerns of my estate as expeditiously as 
possible, and to see that my intentions in respect to the 
residue of my estate are and shall be strictly complied 
with : and I do hereby revoke all other Wills by me 
heretofore made. 

In witness, I, the said Stephen Girard, have to this 
my last Will and Testament, contained in thirty-five 



32 THE WILL OF THE LATE 

pages, set my hand at the bottom of each page, and my 

hand and seal at the bottom of this page ; the said Will 

executed, from motives of prudence, in duplicate, this 

sixteenth day of February, in the year one thousand 

eight hundred and thirty. 

STEPHEN GIRARD. [&oi] 

Signed, sealed, published, and declared by the said^ 
Stephen Girard, as and for his last Will and Tes- 
tament, in the presence of us, who have at his 1 
request hereunto subscribed our names as wit- f 
nesses thereto, in the presence of the said Testa- 
tor, and of each other, Feb. 16, 1830. 

JOHN H. IRVINT, 
SAMUEL ARTHUR, 
S. H. CARPENTER. 

WHEREAS, I, Stephen Girard, the Testator named 
in the foregoing Will and Testament, dated the sixteenth 
day of February, eighteen hundred and thirty, have, 
since the execution thereof, purchased several parcels 
and pieces of real estate, and have built sundry mes- 
suages, all which, as well as any real estate that I may 
hereafter purchase, it is my wish and intention to pass 
by the said Will. Now, I do hereby republish the fore- 
going last Will and Testament, dated February 16, 
1830, and do confirm the same in all particulars: In 
witness, I, the said Stephen Girard, set my hand and 
seal hereunto, the twenty-fith day of December, eighteen 
hundred and thirty. 

STEPHEN GIRARD. [Sea/.] 

Signed, sealed, published, and declared by the said^j 
Stephen Girard, as and for a republication of his I 
last Will and Testament, in the presence of us, 
who, at his request, have hereunto subscribed our . 
names as Witnesses thereto in the presence of the | 
said Testator and of each other Dec. 25th, 1830. J 

JOHN H. IRVIN, 
SAMUEL ARTHUR, 
JNO. THOMSON. 



STEPHEN GIRARD. 



33 



WHEREAS, I, Stephen Girard, the Testator named 
in the foregoing Will and Testament, dated February 
16, 1830, have, since the execution thereof, purchased 
several parcels and pieces of land and real estate, and 
have built sundry Messuages, all which, as well as any 
real estate that I may hereafter purchase, it is my in- 
tention to pass by said Will. And whereas in particular, 
I have recently purchased from Mr. William Parker, 
the Mansion House, out-buildings, and forty-five acres 
and some perches of land, called Peel Hall, on the Ridge 
Road, in Penn Township. Now, I declare it to be my 
intention, and I direct, that the orphan establishment, 
provided for in my said Will, instead of being built as 
therein directed upon my square of ground between 
High and Chesnut and Eleventh and Twelfth streets in 
the city of Philadelphia, shall be built upon the estate 
so purchased from Mr. W. Parker, and I hereby devote 
the said estate to that purpose, exclusively, in the same 
manner as I have devoted the said square, hereby di- 
recting that all the improvements and arrangements for 
the said orphan establishment prescribed by my said 
Will as to said square shall be made and executed upon 
the said estate, just as if I had in my Will devoted the 
said estate to said purpose — consequently, the said 
square of ground is to constitute, and I declare it to be 
a part of the residue and remainder of my real and per- 
sonal estate, and given and devised for the same uses 
and purposes as are declared in section twenty, of my 
Will, it being my intention that the said square of 
ground shall be built upon and improved in such a man 
ner as to secure a safe and permanent income for the 
purposes stated in said twentieth section. In witness 
whereof, I, the said Stephen Girard, set my hand and 



34 THE WILL OR THE LATE 

seal hereunto, the twentieth day of June, eighteen hun- 
dred and thirty-one. 

STEPHEN GIRARD. [SieoJ;] 

Signed, sealed, published, and declared, by the said' 
Stephen Girard, as and for a republication of his 
last Will and Testament, and a further direction in 
relation to the real estate therein mentioned, in the 
presence of us, who, at his request, have hereunto 
subscribed our names as witnesses thereto, in the 
presence of the said Testator, and of each other, 
June 20, 1830. 

S. H. CARPENTER, 
L. BARDIN, 
SAMUEL ARTHUR. 

Philadelphia, December 31st, 1831. — Then person- 
ally appeared Samuel Arthur and S. H. Carpenter, two 
of the witnesses to the foregoing Will and the second 
Codicil or republication thereof, and on their oaths did 
say that they were present, and did see and hear Stephen 
Girard the testator, in the said Will and second repub- 
lication thereof named, sign, seal, publish and declare 
the same as for his last Will and Testament and repub- 
lication thereof, and that at the doing thereof, he was 
of sound mind, memory, and understanding, to the best 
of their knowledge and belief ; and at the same time ap- 
peared Jno. Thomson, one of the witnesses to the first 
republication of said Will, and on his solemn affirma- 
tion did say that he was present, and did see and hear 
Stephen Girard, the testator in the first republication 
of said Will, named, sign, seal, publish, and declare the 
same as and for a republication of his last Will and 
Testament. And the said Samuel Arthur, another of 
the witnesses to said first republication of said Will, on 
his oath did further say, that he was present, and did 
see and hear Stephen Girard, the testator in the first 
republication of said Will, named, sign, seal, publish 



STEPHEN GIRARD 35 

and declare the same as and for a republication of his 
last Will and Testament, and they both did say that at 
the doing thereof, he was of sound mind, memory, and 
understanding, to the best of their knowledge and belief. 

Coram, 

J. HUMES, Register 

December 31, 1831. — Timothy Paxson and Thomas 
P. Cope, two of the Executors, affirmed, and Joseph 
Roberts, William J. Duane, and John A. Barclay, the 
other Executors, sworn, and letters testamentary granted 
unto them. 



THOMAS L. BONSAL, 

HAS JUST PUBLISHED 

SIMPSON'S POLITICAL ECONOMY.— Elements of Political 
Economy ; or an Inquiry into the real sources of National Wealth, 
on the principles of the American System. —In eluding an in- 
quiry into the principles of public credit, currency, the wages 
of labour, the production of wealth, the distribution of wealth, 
consumption of wealth, popular education, and the elements of 
social government in general, as they appear open to the 
scrutiny of Common Sense and the philosophy of the age. 

"Governments were instituted for the happiness of the many, not the 
benefit of the few." 

By Stephen Simpson. 



T. L. Bonsai has on hand, and offers for sale, at reduced prices, 
a general assortment of 

MISCELLANEOUS AND SCHOOL BOOKS, AND STA- 
TIONARY. Wrapping and other Papers, by the quantity, at 
Mill prices. Blue and White Bonnet Boards, &c. 

BLANK BOOKS,— -Ledgers, Journals, Day Books, Blotters, In- 
voice, Cash, Bill, Record, Memorandum and Receipt Books, by 
the quantity. 

FAMILY BIBLES, in great variety. 

WRITING PAPERS,— Super-royal, Royal, Medium, Demi, Fo- 
lio Post, Cap, and Quarto Post. 

PRINTING PAPERS,— Royal, Super-royal, Imperial, Medium, 
and Demi. 

03" Country Merchants will find a general assortment, embra- 
cing a variety of articles suited to their wants, which, for cash or 
approved credit, will be sold on the most reasonable terms. 

N. B. Cash given for Rags, or taken in exchange. 



. 



/ 



